Texas football College Football Playoff Rooting Guide Week 11: Keeping tabs on Alabama-LSU, pulling for Ole Miss
Now that Texas knows where it stands in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Longhorns need to start thinking about how they can move about the bracket itself. First, fans need to understand how the bracket rules work. In this new 12-team CFP format, the top four teams as determined by the selection committee will […]
Now that Texas knows where it stands in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Longhorns need to start thinking about how they can move about the bracket itself.
First, fans need to understand how the bracket rules work.
In this new 12-team CFP format, the top four teams as determined by the selection committee will earn a first-round bye if they are conference champions. Based on Tuesday’s rankings, the committee would slot Oregon (Big Ten), Georgia (SEC), Miami (ACC) and BYU (Big 12) in the top four positions.
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Texas was technically the No. 5 overall seed in the CFP committee’s rankings, but the Horns were slotted into the No. 6 spot in the bracket. Ohio State was the committee’s No. 2 overall seed. But with Oregon as the perceived Big Ten champ, Ohio State would get the No. 5 spot on the bracket.
It may sound confusing on paper, but it’s obvious when you look at the bracket itself.
The Longhorns (7-1, 3-1 SEC) can easily move into the top four spots by winning the SEC title. That wouldn’t be an issue. But if the Horns don’t win the league, then it’s imperative to track what other teams are doing to draw the the most favorable first-round matchup.
With that in mind, let’s look at three games and who Texas fans should want to win for CFP purposes this weekend:
No. 11 Alabama vs. No. 15 LSU
A three-loss Alabama team would be eliminated
This will be a huge matchup this weekend just on the helmets alone. But the Horns just went 1-1 against the Crimson Tide during a home-and-home series in 2022-23. An Alabama loss would also help elevate SMU, currently on the outside looking in at No. 13. Texas fans would probably like their odds better against a team like SMU than say Alabama or LSU.
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 16 Ole Miss
Texas’ SEC chances improve with another Georgia loss
If you believe the Bulldogs channeled all their collective power into beating the Horns in spite of mediocre results to everyone else, this could be your weekend. The Rebels badly need a victory to stay relevant this season, and getting the Dawgs at home is huge. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck just hasn’t been the same this season.
Purdue vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Anything can happen, right?
If Texas doesn’t win the SEC, then the Horns should want that No. 5 spot in the bracket. That way, UT would draw the No. 12 seed in the first round and a potential No. 4 seed in the quarterfinals. That’s a better draw than the 6-11 bracket that advances to face the No. 3 team. Boilermakers are 1-7 this season. Sigh. There’s always hope, right?
