The first college football playoff rankings are out and the analysts are picking it apart. It certainly resembles the latest AP Top 25 poll.
The Texas Longhorns land at No. 5 in the first rankings of the season. That puts UT as a 6th seed in the playoff bracket. The Horns are projected to face Alabama in the first round.
Obviously, there’s a lot of season left before the final rankings and seeds are locked down. For Texas, the Longhorns must focus on winning. If UT wins out, they’re locked into a playoff spot. If Texas loses one game, they will probably squeak in, but it would be close. Three losses? Texas is likely out.
Are the Longhorns ranked too high at 5th? Texas’ strength of schedule is being brought up more and more as college football analysts try to make a case for one school over another.
Ranked at the time, Michigan’s season has fallen apart. Texas’ win over the defending champs doesn’t carry much weight. Oklahoma was ranked in the preseason, but they’re a mess.
USA TODAY Sports says Texas is one of the most ‘overvalued’ teams in the ranking.
“The schedule strength looks solid until you dive deeper. Texas was blown out at home by Georgia and held off Vanderbilt for its most impressive win.
Too much weight has been placed on a September win at average Michigan, and the day we start giving credit for Group of Five wins is the day the CFP poll is meaningless.” — Matt Hayes USA TODAY
Texas faces Florida in Austin this weekend, but trips to Arkansas and A&M loom as possible roadblocks.