The Playoff Picture

[dssl]

If we get left out, we probably need to cancel our big OOC games. Even though we're supposed to win every game, sometime $#!+ happens and you lose one you're not supposed to. We need to keep our chances of making the playoffs as high as possible.

This is something you would think would weight heavily on the minds of the playoff committee. Those games bring in lots of excitement and money.

On the other hand the wins against Kentucky and Mississippi State are also likely working against us. I remember when we were down big against Mississippi State thinking that the team wasn't very good. Of coarse lots of other playoff teams also had unconvincing wins as well.

 

[83Dee]

Its disappointing but I wont beat myself up about it.

We achieved the next best thing to a conference title season – we beat all three of our rivals (aggy, arkie, gooners)

We'll get a good bowl and hopefully win it. The extra practices are still in play which is big.

More time for Sark and staff to focus on the portal, too.

Back in my childhood (SWC) days, how we fared against the rivals: OU, Arkansas, Aggy, was a highly valued consolation prize. Especially if the Horns didn't go to / win the Cotton Bowl.

It is a rare treat to beat all three... This year that treat belongs to us! Nobody at the water cooler has scoreboard over me. Who cares about the playoffs? Okay, the last sentence went too far, but the consolation prize is sweet.

 

[BruiseLee]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Yeah, need to wait until SF is mediocre again. lol

 

[Baron]

Is next years Bama OCC schedule even up to par with the new SEC rules?. Must schedule one
P4 high quality opponent or ND

 

[Steelhammer]

This is something you would think would weight heavily on the minds of the playoff committee. Those games bring in lots of excitement and money.

On the other hand the wins against Kentucky and Mississippi State are also likely working against us. I remember when we were down big against Mississippi State thinking that the team wasn't very good. Of coarse lots of other playoff teams also had unconvincing wins as well.

If coach hadn't kept kicking Niblett,,we would be up creek without even tree branch

 

[UT1983]

If we don’t make the playoffs, don’t be surprised when Texas announces Rice as a replacement for Michigan for OOC games. First month of college football is fixing to get really boring for a lot of teams.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

If we don’t make the playoffs, don’t be surprised when Texas announces Rice as a replacement for Michigan for OOC games. First month of college football is fixing to get really boring for a lot of teams.

College Foottball is breaking. And it's breaking in multiple places. I don't blame Texas. I blame the committee and talking heads.

Today I read Heather Disch of ESPN. In one paragraph, she notes one team had two bad wins (Texas) and then below that she credited another team for surviving several games with wins, which is what good teams do.

IMO, None of them have a clue. The inconsistency shows all they did was make the clusterf#** even bigger and becoming some sort of popularity contest.

 

[UT1983]

If Texas is out and ou is in, then only your record is what is important. 10-2 ou that got lucky not to lose to LSU is better than a 9-3 Texas that beat #3 aggy AND ou.

Screw college football and be concerned only with what is good for Texas football. If this keeps up, people won’t tune into college football until the playoffs.

 

[bctex1106]

The updated rankings didnt change much, but had a few curveballs.

1) We jump Utah and Vandy, as we should, based on resume and H2H.

2) Bama jumps ND for, according to the committee chair, "converting a 4th down and forcing a turnover late in the 4Q to clinch a win over a 1-6 rival was enough to jump ND." While ND won by 30. This swap in ranking makes zero sense. And worse, the committee is honoring H2H for Bama and sooner, but ignoring it completely for ND-Miami.

3) committee chair confirmed live on-air with Rece that prior year's assumptions for idle teams during conference championship weekend, where they cannot be impacted by CCG results, no longer applies. Meaning the window is open for more movement on sunday for the final rankings bracket.

God knows I love college football more than any other sport in the world, but this process is absolutely broken and frustrating.

 

[bctex1106]

College Foottball is breaking. And it's breaking in multiple places. I don't blame Texas. I blame the committee and talking heads.

Today I read Heather Disch of ESPN. In one paragraph, she notes one team had two bad wins (Texas) and then below that she credited another team for surviving several games with wins, which is what good teams do.

IMO, None of them have a clue. The inconsistency shows all they did was make the clusterf#** even bigger and becoming some sort of popularity contest.

Couldn't agree more.

The sport, and process, are completely broken.

 

[dssl]

If we don’t make the playoffs, don’t be surprised when Texas announces Rice as a replacement for Michigan for OOC games. First month of college football is fixing to get really boring for a lot of teams.

Since we already played @ Michigan it seems unlikely we would cancel the return game.

I would think that a change in scheduling approach would only effect home and away matchups in the future, where neither game has occurred.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Since we already played @ Michigan it seems unlikely we would cancel the return game.

I would think that a change in scheduling approach would only effect home and away matchups in the future, where neither game has occurred.

Yeah, and Michigan brings in more money for UT than UL Monroe.

If the playoffs are popularity contests, the early big game keeps your team in the spotlight

 

[Sunkist]

Texas has a slim chance if any of getting in. I don’t see it happening.

I hope Texas continues to schedule big out of conference games for the excitement of the sport especially early in the season. Yes the SEC is difficult and will move to 9 conf games next year but us fans want these big games. Now Texas just needs to figure out how to win more of them like that amazing victory against Bama a few years back.

Yes for pure playoff chances, playing Ohio State next year while they are at their peak is a challenge but everyone is going to look forward to that game (except it being played in 100 degree heat). But as a program that wants to be in the playoffs every year, we’d rather play Ohio State in the playoffs rather than Week 2 if it jeopardizes our chances.

Damnit, should’ve just beaten Florida. They are so bad this year!

 

[texbound]

Damnit, should’ve just beaten Florida. They are so bad this year!

But didn't Florida just beat the very same Florida State that beat Alabama? Just saying.

 

[oldhorn2]

Godd*mmit.....we will not be left out because we lost to OSU....we will be left out because we lost to Florida!!!..... That and we played poorly against Kentucky and MSU..... It is All on us!

 

[Dillohorn1]

If we don’t make the playoffs, don’t be surprised when Texas announces Rice as a replacement for Michigan for OOC games. First month of college football is fixing to get really boring for a lot of teams.

Ok with me. Protect yourself.

 

[Sunkist]

But didn't Florida just beat the very same Florida State that beat Alabama? Just saying.

But then one could say Miami kicked the butt of that same Florida team and also beat ND and is below ND…

 

[bctex1106]

Ok with me. Protect yourself.

Anyone making the argument that big non-conf games are threatened, needs to realize that these ADs have huge stadiums to fill and know they can’t keep raising prices to help fill their bloated budgets. Going full cupcake would be stupid on their part.

Id also prefer not to have 3 games to start the season against scrub competition at home.

 

[Baron]

I'll post this again.
From an ESPN article.
SEC teams are still required to schedule at least one additional high-quality nonconference opponent from the ACC, Big Ten or Big 12 conferences or Notre Dame each season.
https://www.espn.com/college-footba...c-go-9-game-conference-schedule-starting-2026

From the SEC website.
SEC teams are required to schedule at least one additional high quality non-conference from the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten or Big 12 conferences or Notre Dame each season. The SEC will continue to evaluate its policies to ensure the continued scheduling of high-quality non-conference opponents.
https://www.secsports.com/news/2025...ine-game-conference-football-schedule-in-2026

Alabama is in violation of the new rules.