A Texas loss in Nashville would have been a crippling blow to the Longhorns playoff chances. But UT held on for a close 27-24 win and according to ESPN, are the top seed among non-conference winners.
The winners of the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC get the top four seeds in the tournament and a first round bye. Seeds 5-12 are ‘at large.’ The latest ESPN playoff projections has Texas nabbing a No. 5 seed. But Texas better keep winning.
Just behind the Horns in their projections is Texas A&M. It is looking like the post-Thanksgiving weekend game at Kyle Field could be for a spot in the SEC championship game and a playoff spot.
Texas might squeak in as a two-loss team, but the Longhorns would rather not find out.
ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich explains Texas spot in the projections.
5. Texas Longhorns (7-1)
Why they could be here: Texas and Ohio State both won close games against lesser opponents Saturday, but the committee evaluates the entire “body of work,” and the Longhorns’ home loss to Georgia is worse than Ohio State’s one-point loss at No. 1 Oregon. Where and how teams lose matters to the group. On Saturday, Texas did what Alabama couldn’t — win at Vanderbilt — albeit barely. And it’s now its best win, as Michigan and Oklahoma have combined for seven losses this season and Vandy has a better quarterback than both of them. Combined. The committee will still appreciate a true road win in Ann Arbor, as long as Michigan has a respectable season, just as it will help Texas to get its first true SEC road win at Vandy. The committee will almost certainly keep Texas behind Georgia, though, because of the head-to-head tiebreaker as long as their record is similar.
Why they could be lower: Texas has looked flawed in the past two games. In addition to the 15-point loss to Georgia, Texas allowed Vanderbilt four sacks and had 10 penalties for 108 yards. Quarterback Quinn Ewers had impressive moments, but he also threw two interceptions.
Need to know: Texas has a bye week and won’t play again before the committee releases its first ranking on Nov. 5, so this is it — what the Longhorns have accomplished through nine weeks is what they will be judged on in the first of six rankings. With only four games left in the regular season, the Longhorns’ best remaining chances to boost their résumé are against rivals Arkansas and Texas A&M.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 30 at Texas A&M