Texas made a small but meaningful move in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, climbing one spot to No. 6 after its win over Missouri on Saturday.
The Longhorns did not get all the way into the top five, but the committee did reward them for the strong finish in that victory. Texas now sits as the third-highest SEC team in the rankings.
A few teams were always likely to stay ahead of Steve Sarkisian’s group. Georgia and Alabama both entered the week above Texas and did nothing to lose ground. Georgia was on bye and remains the SEC’s best team by record, while Alabama handled LSU 31-13.
Utah also stayed in front of Texas, and that one makes sense on paper. The Utes are still undefeated and moved up to No. 2 after Miami dropped following its loss to Notre Dame.
UCLA is the other unbeaten team in the rankings, and the committee kept the Bruins ahead of Texas as well. Their schedule may not be flashy, but the committee clearly values the fact that they keep winning.
Notre Dame is the final team above Texas after its home win over Miami. Texas has the edge in strength of schedule and quality wins, but the two losses to unranked opponents keep the Longhorns behind the Fighting Irish for now.
Behind Texas, there are a few teams that could make a case, but those arguments come with some baggage. Miami sits one spot back despite losing only once, on the road against an elite opponent, but the committee didn’t think the Hurricanes had enough on the résumé to leap Texas.
Tennessee and Indiana follow, and Texas has the head-to-head win over Tennessee. Indiana also lost at home to Ohio State, the same team Texas beat at DKR, which leaves little room for the Hoosiers to argue for a spot above the Longhorns.
So while Texas didn’t get the jump some fans may have wanted, No. 6 feels like a fair landing spot. There’s a reasonable case for the Longhorns to be a spot higher or lower, but the committee settled them right in the middle.
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