Texas is already in a spot no three-loss team has ever quite occupied in the College Football Playoff era.
The Longhorns opened Tuesday’s first CFP rankings at No. 7, a position that puts them squarely in the playoff mix despite two losses and four games still left to play. That alone makes their path worth watching. If Texas can keep climbing, it could end up chasing a first that has never been pulled off: an at-large playoff berth for a team with three regular-season losses.
That possibility is real because the committee has already shown plenty of respect for what Texas has done on the field. The Longhorns own three wins over teams currently ranked in the committee’s top 13 - No.
10 Ole Miss, No. 12 Ohio State and No.
13 Tennessee. Those results helped Texas land ahead of several teams with fewer losses, including undefeated UCLA.
Last year, Texas had a strong case of its own and still came up short. The Longhorns finished No. 13 in the CFP rankings, just outside the field, even after beating three teams that were ranked in the AP top 10 at the time, knocking off Texas A&M and watching Arch Manning play like the Heisman contender people expected before the season. A lot of fans thought that résumé should have been enough.
This year, the setup is different. The committee has given Texas a better starting point, and the schedule ahead offers a chance to pile on more quality wins.
The Longhorns head to No. 18 Missouri on Saturday, then go to No.
14 LSU in Death Valley the next week. After that, they return home for Arkansas before finishing the regular season against Texas A&M.
If Texas wins three of those four, it would finish 9-3 and add at least one more ranked win to the list. That kind of résumé would give the committee even more to weigh, especially with the Longhorns already sitting in the top 10.
Still, nothing is locked in. Another loss could knock Texas down fast, particularly if it comes against the currently unranked Aggies or an Arkansas team near the bottom of the SEC standings. And even being in the top 12 does not guarantee anything, with automatic qualifiers set to take at least five of the 12 playoff spots.
For now, though, Texas has something it did not have last season: a ranking that keeps the door open. The committee has already made clear it values the Longhorns’ wins. The question is whether that same patience would hold if Texas takes a third loss.
Last season, nine wins and a tough schedule still sent the Longhorns to Orlando. This time, they may have a shot to rewrite that outcome without even reaching 10.
In Other News...
Texas Just Lost A Backfield Piece It Couldnt Afford To Lose
Texas backfield has already been stretched thin this season, and now it looks like the Longhorns will have to finish the year without Hollywood Smothers. He was ruled out for the upcoming game against Missouri, and the expectation is that he will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after injuries have repeatedly limited his availability.
Smothers absence is a tough blow for a running back group that has already had to adjust on the fly, with Raleek Brown stepping into a larger role during his time out. For Texas, the issue is no longer just replacing a player who flashed when healthy, but trying to keep the ground game steady without one of the pieces it was counting on most. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Faces A New Receiver Battle After Missing On Top Target
Texas is already shifting its attention to the next wave of wide receiver recruiting after missing on Brysen Wright, a loss that adds another wrinkle to a class the Longhorns are trying to build early. The 2028 board is still taking shape, but the staff is clearly working to keep momentum in Texas and beyond, especially with several promising pass catchers already in the mix.
Among the names drawing the most attention are Mays, a highly ranked Texas native, and Wiley, who has shown strong interest in the Longhorns. The challenge now is familiar for Texas: keeping pace with regional rivals like Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Oklahoma while making sure the next receiver battle does not slip away the way the last one did. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Lost A Key Rushing Threat At The Worst Time
Texas has already been juggling its backfield all season, and now it has to finish the year without one of its most experienced options. Senior running back Hollywood Smothers is out for the remainder of the season after tearing an MCL in the win over Mississippi State, a blow that comes just as the Longhorns are trying to keep their offense steady down the stretch.
Smothers had battled injuries throughout the year, but he still ranked second on the team in rushing yards before going down. His absence removes a proven runner from the rotation and leaves Texas preparing for Missouri without one of the few backs who had managed to provide both experience and production when available. [Read more 🡒]