Saturday's key matchups could propel Texas into the playoff picture. See which upsets and outcomes are crucial for the Longhorns' championship hopes.
The No. 11 Texas Longhorns sit just outside the Top 10 of at large playoff candidates heading into the weekend. At No. 11, Texas is the last team out of the College Football Playoff.
The Longhorns control their destiny with two Top 5 matchups ahead. If they win out, the question is not if they make the playoff but whether or not they can make the Top 5.
No team is going to match Texas resume should they acquire wins over No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 5 Georgia, No. 12 Oklahoma and No. 16 Vanderbilt by season's end. With Vanderbilt and Oklahoma wins already secured, Texas is playing for seeding.
In spite of the Longhorns' solid positioning, they have a chance to climb into the playoff picture with three games to play. A handful of teams can put Texas in prime position.
The game between No. 7 BYU and No. 8 Texas Tech looms large for Texas as well as the Big 12 title race. BYU enters the game undefeated on the heels of an impressive win over No. 13 Utah. Tech defeated Utah earlier this year, but fell to the Arizona State Sun Devils, 26-22.
A win for BYU all but solidifies the Cougars as the Big 12 title favorite but could vault the Texas Longhorns past their former secondary in-state rivals. With Texas Tech already at one loss, the Raiders could fall out of the playoff field given their favorable schedule.
Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) celebrates with offensive lineman Cash Cleveland (52) after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium.Scott Sewell-Imagn ImagesThe No. 9 Oregon Ducks face the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes. And while hardly anyone likely expects the Hawkeyes to pull the upset, an Iowa win would almost certainly move Texas ahead of the Ducks.
Oregon has one loss so far this season to No. 2 Indiana. Yet despite early decisive wins, the Ducks lack the Longhorns' resume. A loss for Oregon puts Texas in a good position to move up in the rankings.
The Navy Midshipmen (7-1) are an interesting matchup for the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-2). While Navy possesses the better record, Notre Dame has looked like the better team this season. Navy lost its first game of the season to North Texas, 31-17.
With Notre Dame already at two losses on the year, one more moves Texas into the Top 10.
Finally, No. 5 Georgia (7-1) takes on the unranked Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-4). Georgia does possess wins over the No. 25 Tennessee Volunteers and No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels. So while a loss might not put the Longhorns ahead of the Bulldogs, it would certainly make next week's game between Texas and Georgia interesting.
Texas faithful may find themselves rooting for Georgia despite the potential temporary rankings jump they could see. Defeating a Top 5 team would probably resonate more with the committee than a win over a two-loss Georgia squad. Aside from that, the Longhorns might fare better against a one-loss Georgia team without its back against the wall.
The Longhorns will resume their playoff contending run against Georgia on November 15.