As Selection Sunday approaches, the resumes of the teams in the college football playoff ranking are being hotly debated. The Texas Longhorns schedule is getting kicked around pretty hard. In fact, some feel the UT schedule is so soft, the Horns should be left out of the playoff if they have two losses.
CBS Sports Josh Pate put the Horns schedule and playoff chances under the microscope soon after the latest college football playoff rankings were announced. He thinks several factors like brand name and expectations are helping Texas in the current rankings.
“The playoff committee’s ranking of Texas, I think, is largely contingent on eye test, brand viability, which is not a data point … but it is, and the third thing is, they expect them to do good. They expect them to beat Texas A&M. They expect them to be in the SEC Championship. Again, it’s not supposed to work this way, I think you and I both know that. But I think you and I both know it does work this way. There is a lot of baking in of expectations when it comes to rankings.” — Josh Pate
The Longhorns are currently No. 3 in the rankings, which gives UT a No. 2 seed in the bracket. That would play out if Texas beats the Aggies. But Pate debates what happens if those expectations are not met.
“Let’s just explore the disaster nightmare scenario in Austin of, you guys lose to Texas A&M. And then remove the Longhorn logo and make it a blind resume. What are you hanging you hat on? What win?” — Josh Pate
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Texas has played several teams, like Michigan and Oklahoma, that were ranked at game time, but have fallen by the wayside since. This severely hurts UT’s resume.
“Michigan screwed you guys. I give you all the credit in the world for scheduling big out-of-conference games, but Michigan screwed you. That’s out of your control, but Michigan didn’t come through.
You beat Vandy on the road. Which is a Top 40, I guess, still a Top 40 calibre win. OK. And you beat Florida (without DJ Lagway). … There is not an impressive win on Texas’ resume … if they lose their two biggest games. The Georgia game, they had a shot at home but they lost by two possessions. If they lose on the road to A&M, what else is there?” — Josh Pate
Pate thinks Texas would get in with two losses. But based on resume, he thinks there are serious issues with Texas’ body of work.
“I don’t think they’ll drop Texas that far. But if I’m removing that Longhorns logo and just putting a question mark, I’m not sure that resume stacks up.” — Josh Pate
Pate’s conclusion?
“If Texas loses to Texas A&M I don’t think they should be in the playoff.” — Josh Pate