Teams That Could Boost Texas’ College Football Playoff Hopes
The Texas Longhorns, currently ranked No. 16, are eagerly awaiting their postseason fate after a convincing 27-17 victory over the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies. Despite finishing the regular season without a chance to compete for the SEC title, their performance strengthens their case for a third consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff. Texas boasts three top-10 wins, a remarkable achievement not seen since the LSU team that won the national championship in 2019.
Challenges Ahead for Texas
With four teams ranked ahead of them, the Longhorns need favorable outcomes in upcoming games to enhance their playoff prospects. The following games are crucial:
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Michigan
- Texas fans will cheer for Ohio State to defeat Michigan.
- A loss for Michigan, which recently jumped ahead of Texas in the rankings, would help the Longhorns’ case.
- Michigan’s thin resume includes a loss to the Sooners, contrasting Texas’s impressive Cotton Bowl victory.
No. 12 Miami vs. No. 22 Pitt
- This early game is significant for Texas aspirations.
- If Pitt defeats Miami, Texas can advance in the rankings.
- Miami’s season has also been marred by two losses, including a setback against 7-4 Louisville.
No. 14 Vanderbilt vs. No. 19 Tennessee
- A win for Tennessee could benefit Texas, particularly with their head-to-head victory over Vanderbilt.
- Texas aims to move ahead of Vanderbilt, even with a Commodores victory.
Other Notable Games
Additional matchups also merit attention:
- No. 9 Notre Dame travels to face Stanford, complicating their playoff considerations.
- UCF has less than a 7% chance to upset BYU, which could alter ranking dynamics.
- The Iron Bowl presents a slim chance for the Tigers to upset Alabama, which could further aid Texas.
While the Longhorns hope for unlikely wins, more plausible outcomes from leading teams like Ohio State, Miami, and Tennessee may push Texas toward the top 12 in the rankings. Coach Steve Sarkisian’s team remains optimistic as they prepare for the final stretch leading into the postseason.
