Texas Takes Down Texas A&M, but College Football Playoff Hopes Take a Hit
In one of the most emotionally charged games of the season, the Texas Longhorns delivered a signature win on Friday night, knocking off No. 3 Texas A&M, 27-17, in Austin.
It was a statement victory-arguably the most impactful win by any team this season-and it came against their fiercest rival. The Longhorns not only spoiled the Aggies’ shot at a perfect regular season, but they also added a third Top-10 win to their résumé.
On paper, that kind of performance should vault a team into serious College Football Playoff consideration. But in reality, Texas still finds itself on the outside looking in. The win over A&M gave the Longhorns a brief surge in playoff probability-jumping to 11% according to ESPN’s Football Power Index-but by the time Saturday’s action wrapped up across the country, that number had plummeted to just 1.6%.
And here’s why: Texas needed help, and they didn’t get it.
Let’s break it down. The Longhorns entered the final week of the regular season knowing that a win over A&M wouldn’t be enough on its own.
They needed chaos around the top 10-some upsets, some stumbles, something to shake up the CFP picture. But instead, the teams around them held serve.
No. 8 Oklahoma edged LSU in a gritty 17-13 battle.
No. 14 Vanderbilt impressed with a dominant 45-24 win over No.
19 Tennessee. No.
9 BYU overcame an early 14-0 deficit to roll past UCF, 41-21. No.
12 Miami crushed No. 22 Pittsburgh, 38-7.
No. 10 Alabama survived a scare in the Iron Bowl, getting past Auburn, 27-20.
And Notre Dame, sitting at No. 9, closed the night with a commanding 49-20 win over Stanford.
The only major shakeup came from Ohio State, which knocked Michigan out of the playoff mix. But one domino falling wasn’t enough for Texas. Almost every other team near the playoff bubble either won convincingly or did just enough to keep their hopes alive, leaving the Longhorns stuck behind a crowded field.
Still, don’t confuse slim odds with a lack of belief inside the Texas locker room. Quarterback Arch Manning made that crystal clear after the win.
“We’re a good team,” Manning said. “We play a lot of good teams.
We’re only getting better. If they let us in, we can beat anyone.”
That confidence isn’t just talk. Texas has shown time and again this season that it can go toe-to-toe with the best.
They’ve battled through adversity, bounced back from tough performances, and never stopped swinging. That mentality-resilient, fearless, unrelenting-is exactly what you want in a playoff team.
“This team never loses the fight,” Manning added. “Shows up every week no matter what the media says about them or if we didn’t play well the week before, just keeps fighting and keeps continuing to get better. It’s fun to be a part of.”
And that’s the heart of it. Texas may not control its own destiny, but it’s doing everything it can to make its case. The win over Texas A&M was more than just a rivalry triumph-it was a reminder that this team belongs in the national conversation.
Now, with one week left and the playoff picture still shifting, the Longhorns will need to keep their foot on the gas-and hope that somewhere, someone else slips.