Find out where USA TODAY’s Bowl Projections put Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns are projected by most to make the playoff, but will Texas get a bye or first-round game?

The season is now just a few days away. With the college football playoffs expanded to 12-teams, the Longhorns are expected by most to be included.

The SEC conference champion gets a first-round bye, so winning the league would give Texas some much-needed rest. Most projections have Georgia edging out the Longhorns for that SEC top spot, which means the Horns will have to play in Round 1.

USA TODAY Sports is out with new preseason bowl projections. Indeed, it is Georgia that gets the first round off. Texas will face Penn State in this 2024 season forecast.

The projections put four SEC teams to make the final 12 — Texas, the aforementioned Bulldogs, plus Alabama and Oklahoma.