The Texas Longhorns had no issue dispatching the Arkansas Razorbacks (who are now 0-7 in SEC play) in Week 13, moving to 8-3 on the year. But did the win have any effect on their chances of making the College Football Playoff?
What Are the Chances of Texas Making the College Football Playoff?
According to the PFSN College Football Playoff Meter (FPM), Texas entered Week 13 with a 0.1% chance of making the CFP. With the win, that’s increased to a whopping 0.2%. At least it’s better than the 0% it would’ve been had they fallen to the Razorbacks.
With three losses on the year, making the playoffs is going to take a Herculean effort by the Longhorns, as well as luck. A whole lot of luck.
The defense has done its part all year, ranking 15th in the nation, per PFSN’s College Impact ratings. But Arch Manning and Co. have held the team back, ranking a paltry 60th.
Dropping 52 points on Arkansas should boost their rating a bit, but the unit’s 3.7 yards per carry and Manning’s untimely sacks and inconsistency through the air landed them where they are.
Nevertheless, what exactly needs to go in Steve Sarkisian’s squad’s way for them to make the final dance?
Remaining Texas Longhorns Football Schedule
- vs. No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies
To have any shot at the CFP, Texas has to knock off its regular-season finale opponent: the no. 3-ranked Texas A&M Aggies, who remain undefeated. Historically, the Longhorns have dominated their in-state rival, owning a 77-37-5 all-time series advantage. But this isn’t your grandfather’s Texas A&M.
The Aggies have torched a pair of ranked opponents (No. 20 LSU, 49-25, and No. 22 Missouri, 38-17), proved they can win dogfights (No. 8 Notre Dame, 41-40, and Auburn, 16-10), and shown they can come back from near-death (scored 28 unasnwered to defeat Arkansas 31-30).
KEEP READING: College Football Bowl Tracker and Clinching Scenarios in Week 13
A win would certainly vault the Longhorns up the rankings, but at No. 17, they’ll need much more help in front of them. The five highest-ranked conference champions make the bracket automatically, leaving seven at-large bids up for grabs.
Currently, Texas would need at least Notre Dame, USC (who fell to Oregon in Week 13), Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt to lose for it to have an outside chance. They’d also need both the ACC and Big 12 to be one-CFP-team leagues, meaning No. 11 BYU and No. 12 Utah can’t sneak in.
Sure, the “So, you’re telling me there’s a chance?” meme is fun and all, but I wouldn’t count on it, Longhorns fans.
