The Texas Longhorns made a statement Friday night-and not just any statement. They took down No.
3 Texas A&M in a 27-17 rivalry win that had the city of Austin buzzing. It was the kind of performance that turns heads, the kind that should shake up rankings.
But when the new AP Top 25 dropped Sunday, the reward felt a little underwhelming.
Texas climbed just two spots, landing at No. 14.
For a team that just beat a top-three opponent, it was a modest bump-more a polite nod than a thunderous applause. And the reason?
Simple: there wasn’t much chaos ahead of them. Most of the top teams held serve, and that left the Longhorns stuck in neutral despite a marquee win.
On the flip side, Texas A&M took a hit but didn’t tumble too far, falling four spots to No. 7. It was their first loss of the season, and the voters didn’t punish them too harshly-likely a sign of respect for the rivalry atmosphere and the fact that Texas simply played the better game.
Elsewhere in the top 25, the upper echelon stayed mostly intact. Ohio State remained firmly entrenched at No. 1 after dispatching Michigan 27-9, and Indiana held on to No.
- But A&M’s loss did cause a ripple effect.
Georgia slid up to No. 3, Oregon jumped to No. 4, and Texas Tech surged into the top five.
Rounding out the top 10: Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Alabama.
Further down the poll, James Madison continues to carry the Group of Five banner at No. 19, followed closely by North Texas at No. 20 and Tulane at No. 21. All three are eyeing championship week with more than just pride on the line-there’s real opportunity for a New Year’s Six bowl berth in play.
As for Texas, the AP Poll doesn’t directly impact the College Football Playoff committee’s decisions, but it often runs parallel. The CFP will release its updated rankings Tuesday, with the final 12-team bracket set to be revealed on December 7.
The Longhorns’ résumé is compelling: three wins over top-10 teams, a rivalry victory that made national noise, and close losses to elite programs. But sitting at No. 14, they’ll need more than just a strong case-they’ll need some serious chaos during championship week to break into the playoff conversation.
It’s not out of the question. But for now, Texas is on the outside looking in, hoping the final week of the season delivers the shakeup they need to make one last push toward the CFP.