Texas Climbs In Rankings As Longhorns Strengthen Their Playoff Case

Texas football is climbing the national rankings again, and with the College Football Playoff race heating up, the Longhorns are beginning to look like a team nobody wants to face in December.

Following Saturday's 34-20 victory over Missouri, Texas moved two spots to No. 8 in Sunday's AP Top 25, strengthening its position among the nation's leading playoff contenders.

MORE: Texas Longhorns Overcome Adversity As CFP 'Gauntlet' Awaits

And quarterback Arch Manning is a major reason why.

Manning completed 28 of 38 passes for 297 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Tigers, delivering one of his most impressive performances of the season when Texas needed it most.

The Longhorns improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in SEC play, collecting their third consecutive victory and another important win over a ranked opponent.

But perhaps the biggest takeaway from Saturday wasn't simply that Texas won.

It was how the Longhorns finished.

With the game tied at 20 entering the fourth quarter, Manning connected with Raleek Brown for a 23-yard touchdown. Brown later added an eight-yard scoring run to put the game away.

Brown finished with 85 rushing yards and 48 receiving yards, providing the kind of offensive balance that could make Texas dangerous against elite competition.

The defense also delivered.

Missouri managed just 84 rushing yards, converted only three of 16 third-down opportunities and failed to score in the fourth quarter.

For head coach Steve Sarkisian, those are encouraging numbers heading into the most demanding stretch of the season.

Texas entered last week's initial College Football Playoff rankings at No. 7. Although Sunday's AP poll isn't the official CFP ranking, the Longhorns' victory gives the selection committee another significant result to consider before its next announcement.

Georgia took over the AP's No. 1 ranking following a dominant 42-7 victory over Ole Miss. Alabama climbed to No. 7, one spot ahead of Texas, while Tennessee moved to No. 9.

That leaves the Longhorns surrounded by SEC competition in a crowded playoff race.

And there's little room for mistakes.

Texas travels to LSU next Saturday for another critical conference matchup. The Tigers slipped to No. 24 after losing 31-13 to Alabama, but a trip to Baton Rouge remains a serious challenge.

Another ranked victory would give Texas additional ammunition in its playoff argument.

A loss, however, would leave Sarkisian's team with three defeats and considerably less flexibility.

The Longhorns have already survived enough adversity to get themselves back into the national conversation.

Now comes the difficult part.

They must prove their recent improvement is sustainable against the kind of opponents they'll encounter if they reach the College Football Playoff.

MORE: Arch Manning, Raleek Brown Power Texas Past Missouri In 34-20 Win

Manning has Texas moving in the right direction.

The next three weeks will determine how far that momentum can carry the Longhorns.