The first College Football Playoff ranking of the season gave Texas a boost that may have surprised even some of its own fan base.
When the committee unveiled its top 12 on Tuesday night, the Longhorns landed at No. 7, slotting in ahead of undefeated UCLA and putting Steve Sarkisian’s team in position to get back to the Playoff after missing it for the first time in three years. If Texas finishes the job, Sarkisian would be taking the Horns to the Playoff for the first time with Arch Manning at quarterback.
The full top 12 came out with Miami at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Utah, Indiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Texas, UCLA, BYU, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and Boise State. Boise State was the last team in as the Group of 6 autobid selection, while Ohio State and Tennessee were the first two teams left out.
Texas’ placement also sets up a path that could quickly turn familiar. Under the current bracket format, the four highest-ranked conference champions would receive first-round byes, and the Longhorns would draw Ole Miss in the opening round. That matchup would come on Texas’ home field, with the winner moving on to face Georgia in the next round.
That’s where the bracket gets especially interesting for Texas. Georgia has been a constant problem for the Longhorns over the last few seasons, beating them repeatedly in both the regular season and the postseason.
If the rankings hold, the rest of the bracket would line up with Boise State meeting Alabama and Indiana; BYU meeting UCLA and Miami; and Notre Dame meeting Kentucky and Utah. On the other side, the Texas-Ole Miss winner would get Georgia.
For Texas, the formula is simple now: keep winning. The Longhorns still have Missouri, LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M left on the regular-season schedule.
In Other News...
Steve Sarkisian Just Sent A Clear Message About Arch Manning
Steve Sarkisian is not sounding like a coach looking to press the panic button on Arch Manning. Even with the turnovers piling up and the sack count climbing, Sarkisian has made it clear he still believes in his quarterback, while also pointing to the bigger issues around him. The Texas coach said the offense needs better play up front and a quicker release from Manning, but he also praised the way the young quarterback competes and absorbs contact.
Manning, for his part, has owned some of the blame for the sacks and said he is focused on getting better and helping Texas win. That matters as the Longhorns head into a critical game, where the pressure is only going to rise and every snap will be watched closely. For now, the message from the sideline is less about doubt than about trust, even if the next step has to come fast. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Passing Game Suddenly Rests On Unproven Wideouts
Texas is leaning harder on its receiver depth chart after injuries to Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo forced the passing game to adjust on the fly. In recent games, head coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterback Arch Manning have both pointed to junior Emmett Mosley V as a key piece in that reshaped plan, praising the way he can line up in different spots and handle a bigger workload.
Mosley is now part of a wider group being asked to grow up quickly, with freshmen Jermaine Bishop Jr., Kohen Brown and Chris Stewart all in line for more snaps as the Longhorns manage the shortage. For a passing attack built around timing and trust, the challenge is less about finding bodies than finding reliable ones, and Texas is now testing how much production it can get from receivers who have not had to carry this kind of responsibility before. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Is About To Get A Brutal Playoff Reality Check
Texas is sitting at 6-2 with four regular-season games left, and the latest AP Poll has the Longhorns at No. 10, which keeps them in the playoff conversation but hardly in a comfortable spot. The first College Football Playoff rankings are coming soon, and for a team still trying to stack wins in the SEC, that initial reveal should offer an early look at how the committee views Texas against the rest of the crowded field.
Steve Sarkisian has already pointed to the reality facing SEC teams with multiple losses, a reminder that record alone may not tell the whole story once the selection process begins. For Texas, the bigger question is how the committee weighs the Longhorns' wins and losses from here, especially as the season enters its final stretch and every result starts carrying more meaning. [Read more 🡒]