The Texas Longhorns were a College Football Playoff-caliber team a season ago.

But they weren’t one of the 12 teams included in the playoff all because they chose to open the season against the Ohio State Buckeyes (a game that Texas lost one the road by seven points).

Had Texas scheduled a game against Wake Forest instead of Ohio State, they would’ve made the playoff. But because they chose to play an elite team, they were left out.

The Longhorns will once again face a tough schedule in 2026 — including a home game against Ohio State.

CBS Sports predicts who Texas will lose to in 2026

CBS Sports has the Longhorns going 10-2 in the regular season with wins against Texas State, UTSA, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas A&M.

They have the Longhorns losing to Ohio State and LSU.

“It is title-or-bust for Steve Sarkisian this season in Austin,” wrote CBS Sports’ John Talty. “Last year, the Longhorns underachieved and missed the playoff. With Arch Manning coming back and all the talent acquired on what is one of the nation’s most expensive rosters, the Longhorns need to make a run in 2026. The schedule is again very challenging and it wouldn’t be a shock if Texas finished 9-3, but I like the Longhorns at 10+ wins.”

Going 10-2 while playing a nine game schedule should easily get Texas into the playoff.

The CFP committee, however, left a 10-win SEC team out last season (Vanderbilt), so you never know exactly what decisions will be made in that room. Still, 10 wins should undoubtedly get the Longhorns in the playoff.

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