It would be nice if the College Football Playoff rankings would set up a first-round game between Texas and Texas Tech.
The Longhorns and Red Raiders are certainly the class of the state, and while the CFP panel has given Texas credit for its tougher schedule – five wins over teams that were ranked in the top 25 – we’re sticking with Tech, which has three wins of its own over top 25 teams and just the one loss.
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The Chronicle’s rankings for the 13 FBS teams in Texas (with a special nod to Tarleton State, which is11-0 in FCS play):
1. Texas Tech (9-1) | Last week: 1
Booster Cody Campbell is inviting disgruntled Oklahoma back to the Big 12 and suggesting Texas AD Chris Del Conte as the league’s commissioner. The Red Raiders will likely have to win out to make the CFP but are riding high after a 52-27 win over Oklahoma State.
2. Texas (8-2) | Last week: 2
We’ve been tempering our excitement over the Longhorns since the back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Florida in October. Arch Manning hasn’t shaved since and Texas hasn’t lost again. The 22-21 win at LSU was certainly the most dramatic and almost certainly sets the Longhorns up for a CFP at-large spot.
Texas running back Raleek Brown scores the game-winning touchdown over LSU. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
3. UTSA (8-2) | Last week: 8
The Roadrunners shook off last week’s loss to Florida Atlantic and are back on track after shutting down North Texas. UTSA will need some help (a loss by the Pac-12’s Boise State) if it wants a chance to make the CFP as the top-ranked team in the Group of Six.
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4. Houston (7-3) | Last week: 3
Well, it was fun while it lasted but not even a 24-team CFP field would have a spot for the Cougars after the meltdown in Colorado. As Willie Fritz said, “Nothing good about it.”
5. SMU (7-3) | Last week: 4
SMU coach Rhett Lashlee called last season’s 13-12 loss to Wake Forest “embarrassing.” We think that would be a generous description of this year’s 49-7 loss to the Demon Deacons that ended the Mustangs’ slim chances at reaching the ACC title game and the CFP.
6. TCU (5-5) | Last week: 9
F.A. Dry, who coached the Horned Frogs in the early 1980s during the wild days of the SWC and started TCU on a path to respectability (OK, maybe he paid some players), died this week at age 95. In other news, TCU evened its record with a win over Kansas State.
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7. Baylor (6-4) | Last week: 6
The Bears’ two-game winning streak after firing Dave Aranda came to an abrupt halt in a 28-7 loss at BYU. It won’t be any easier this week against Texas Tech.
8. Texas State (6-4) | Last week: 10
It’s party time in San Marcos. The Bobcats are bowl eligible and still in contention for a rematch with Boise State in the Pac-12 conference championship. That’s thanks to Brad Jackson who directed a 37-35 win over Fresno State.
9. North Texas (7-3) | Last week: 5
The Mean Green had been averaging 51 points per game in its six-game winning streak that ended with a 35-16 loss at UTSA. The two could still meet again in the American title game.
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10. Texas A&M (4-6) | Last week: 7
Coach Mike Elko said his team’s offense is inept and its his fault after a 22-7 loss to Tennessee. We appreciate his honesty and accountability. Might as well start game-planning for the Longhorns on Nov. 27.
11. Rice (1-9) | Last week: 11
The Owls probably wish Tulane had just stayed in New Orleans instead of coming to Houston by bus after the FAA ground stop. Rice had a 17-6 halftime lead but couldn’t hold on and their comeback bid was stopped on fourth-and-one in the 20-17 loss, the ninth in a row for the Owls.
12. UTEP (1-9) | Last week: 12
The Miners only win this season was against Texas Southern. The latest loss was 27-15 to Wyoming.
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13. Sam Houston (1-9) | Last week: 13
All three of Sam Houston’s quarterbacks have thrown a pick-six this season. The lastest was by DJ Bailey in a 26-7 loss to Kennesaw State.
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This article originally published at Texas college football rankings: Sticking with our ‘Guns Up’ and Texas Tech over Texas Longhorns.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
