Texas stuns No. 3 Texas A&M as Steve Sarkisian delivers his boldest College Football Playoff argument
Texas stunned No. 3 Texas A&M 27–17, handing the Aggies their first loss and giving Steve Sarkisian the résumé win he needed to argue the Longhorns belong in the College Football Playoff.
The Longhorns delivered far more than a victory over Texas A&M on Friday—they crafted a statement win that strengthened their postseason credentials. Texas dominated No. 3 Texas A&M 27–17 at home on Friday night, dealing the Aggies their first defeat, ending their unblemished SEC campaign, and eliminating their conference championship hopes.
For head coach Steve Sarkisian, the win offered an opportunity to build a case — not just for this postseason, but for what he believes the playoff field should reward.
Sarkisian lays out the Longhorns’ résumé
When asked if this team has done enough to get into the College Football Playoff, Sarkisian didn’t hesitate. “I think we’re absolutely a playoff team,” he declared. Then he leaned on history and strength of schedule.
“This is the first team since the 2019 national champion LSU team to beat three top-10 ranked teams in the same season during the regular season,” he said. “There’s been a lot of great football teams … but we’re the first since LSU to do it.”
The numbers speak for themselves. The Longhorns notched victories against three top-10 opponents this season. By welcoming an 11–0 Texas A&M squad to their home field, Texas embraced a high-risk, high-reward scheduling decision that numerous playoff hopefuls chose to sidestep.
Despite an 8–3 start and a shaky stretch of the season, Texas’ willingness to schedule and beat elite competition finally paid off.
The first half belonged to the Aggies. Texas trailed 10–3 at the break after a slow start. The Longhorns offense managed just 112 total yards, and their quarterback had a troubling 7-of-22 line for 51 yards.
But second-half adjustments changed the tone. Behind a ground game led by Quintrevion Wisner — who racked up 155 rushing yards — and timely plays from quarterback Arch Manning, Texas seized control. Manning ended the night with 179 passing yards, a touchdown, and a game-clinching 35-yard rushing score late in the fourth.
The Longhorns defense tightened in the final quarter, forcing two interceptions that sealed the upset and silenced the 11–0 Aggies.
For Sarkisian, the win is more than a single result. It’s an argument about scheduling, competitive integrity, and reward for toughness.
“Do you want us not to schedule Ohio State?” he asked, referencing Texas’ early-season trip to Columbus (a narrow loss where they out-gained OSU by nearly 200 yards).
He warned against rewarding padded records. “Is that what college football’s about?” he said. “Don’t play anybody and just have a good record? Or play the best and put the best teams in the playoff — and we’re one of the best teams.”
This issue strikes at the core of what selection committee members will debate in the coming days. Texas accomplished something beyond salvaging their postseason chances with this victory over a top-3 opponent in a high-stakes matchup—they demanded the committee’s serious consideration. While earlier defeats against Florida and Ohio State remain on their record, this triumph reframes those setbacks by demonstrating a program willing to embrace challenging competition and capable of performing under pressure when the stakes couldn’t be higher.
“This team is playoff football,” Sarkisian said. “Worthy of an opportunity to play for a national championship.”
If the committee honors strength, resolve, and dramatic, high-stakes wins — Texas just made the case too hard to ignore.
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