Texas is moving the right way at exactly the right time.
After a 34-20 road win at Missouri, the Longhorns jumped one spot to No. 6 in Tuesday’s College Football Playoff rankings, a rise that reflects just how strong their resume has become with three games left. Steve Sarkisian’s team has now won three straight and owns a 7-2 overall record, 4-2 in SEC play.
The Missouri victory was Texas’ fourth against a ranked opponent this season, and it came with another big-time showing from Arch Manning. The quarterback went 28 of 38 for 297 yards and three touchdowns, a performance that earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Raleek Brown also made his mark, catching the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter before adding a rushing score to help put the game away.
Texas’ defense did its part too, coming up with key stops when Missouri tried to answer.
“We’re big game hunters,” Sarkisian said following the victory. “And we showed up again today.”
At the top of the rankings, Georgia moved into the No. 1 spot after a 42-7 win over Ole Miss, taking over for Miami, which dropped after its first loss came against Notre Dame. Utah sits at No. 2, followed by Alabama, UCLA and Notre Dame.
Texas is just behind the Irish and one spot ahead of Miami, which fell all the way to No. 7.
The committee’s placement of Alabama adds another wrinkle. The Crimson Tide also have two losses, but they’re ranked three spots ahead of Texas, which makes for an interesting comparison as the bracket takes shape.
If the rankings held as they are now, Texas would be the No. 6 seed in the 12-team playoff and would host No. 11 Kentucky in the first round. That would send a postseason game to Austin, though plenty can still change.
Five SEC teams are currently in projected playoff spots, a sign of how much the conference is shaping the race. Texas Tech is also in the mix at No. 12, but the Red Raiders are outside the projected field because Boise State holds the automatic berth for the highest-ranked eligible Group of Six team.
Texas now heads to Baton Rouge for another SEC road test against LSU on Saturday. Georgia and Texas A&M are still ahead on the regular-season schedule, giving the Longhorns more chances to keep climbing.
Now the Longhorns must finish the job.
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