Few bubble teams have the luxury of “control your destiny” in the world. College Football Playoff Race this season is entering the home stretch, but this is where number 10 Texas (7-2) enters Saturday's matchup as No. 5. Georgia as one of SEC Preferred Formulations in the eyes of the admissions committee.
It's not a playoff elimination game for the Longhorns, as another titanic matchup against the undefeated third-place finishers awaits this month. Texas A&M on the horizon, but a win over the Bulldogs will break the program the curse of the big game under Steve Sarkisian and give Texas its third top-15 win of the season.
Texas College Football Playoff Path
The rest of the way
If there is potential three defeats A team capable of making the 12-team bracket this season as a starter, Texas fits the bill. The Longhorns will need help making this scenario play out from the teams around them in the rankings, as well as splitting matchups against Georgia and Texas A&M, but it is possible. Oklahoma's upcoming slate is tough. Notre Dame The trip to nationally ranked Pitt this weekend could be unsettling and Oregon battle with USC November 22 will likely remove one of these two from the overall list.
However, if Texas wins and finishes 10-2, breathe easy, Longhorns fans – you're in business. Ranked No. 1 in the preseason rankings before falling to No. 3 Ohio State on Aug. 30, Texas has made significant improvements since the committee took notice. Arch Maning has back-to-back 300-yard, multi-touchdown performances and the Longhorns are riding a four-game SEC winning streak that includes a pair of current top-15 teams.
Vegas says
Oddsmakers aren't confident the Longhorns will make the playoffs given the current numbers of +186 (yes) and -235 (no) per FanDuelbut it's close. According to the SEC, Texas is one of four plus teams making the playoffs and has a better chance than all others, joining Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and Tennessee. The Longhorns are ahead of each of those programs, winning two of them.
We think…
As for the final committee meetings once the conference championships are decided, Texas has an excellent chance of earning the title of “final team” with the No. 10 seed, given the expectation that the ACC and Group of Five champions will earn the No. 11 and No. 12 spots as automatic bids, regardless of where those teams finish in the final top 25.
There's nothing good about Texas losing to Florida. In fact, it's the worst loss for any SEC playoff hopes this season. However, the selection committee was willing to look past this setback given the Longhorns' (No. 13) overall strong schedule.
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