On the Bubble: Should the Committee Put the Texas Longhorns in the College Football Playoffs?
With the final bracket set to drop on December 7th, the College Football Playoff committee faces a few tough bubble decisions, one being Texas. Few teams have the resume Texas has with three wins over top 15 opponents, something no other bubble contender can claim. Yet the same Texas team lost to 4-8 Florida and suffered a 25-point blowout loss to Georgia. The inconsistency of the 9-3 Longhorns leaves the committee in a difficult decision with just one week left to choose.
Texas has shown the ability to beat elite teams, yesterday beating their rival, third-ranked Texas A&M, 27-17. On the other hand, Texas has shown it can lose to anyone questioning their true identity and whether they are worthy of a playoff spot. One loss that stands out is the 14-7 defeat on the road against Ohio State. Ohio State has been the unanimous one seed all season, and Texas scheduling them in a non-conference game says something. Many programs chose safer, weaker non-conference opponents to rack up easy wins and pad their record, while Texas chose the toughest possible challenge. Texas has the best wounds of any bubble contender, but its resume also comes with some bad defeats.
Ultimately, the committee must decide what it values more: elite wins or damaging losses. Texas has proven it can beat elite opponents, something that no other bubble team can match. The Longhorns' midseason stumbles could be what keeps them out of the playoffs. A team with playoff-caliber highs but terrible lows, Texas' resume is a combination that makes the committee's decision difficult.
Texas’ situation exposes a deeper issue in the playoff ranking process and the bracket formation. Some teams are rewarded for consistency due to weaker opponents, while other programs are punished for taking risks. Strength of schedule is always a debate, but Texas' resume brings that question to the table. How much should it truly influence the committee's decision? Texas scheduled Ohio State on the road in a non-conference game, giving the Buckeyes the toughest test of the year, something that most programs would avoid.
I think Texas can compete in the playoffs and prove they belong among the nation's elite. In my opinion, the top five-ranked conference champions should not receive an auto bid because, realistically, only four conferences have teams capable of winning a National Championship. Rewarding the top five conference champions with automatic bids can leave out stronger teams, like Texas, competing in conferences filled with playoff contenders. The committee should put Texas in the playoff bracket due to their recent showing against third-ranked Texas A&M, along with their other top-15 victories over Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. Texas has the best wins in college football and deserves the chance to compete in December.
