The College Football Playoff (CFP) race is getting wild as we roll into Week 12. Texas is right in the thick of it, with Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Texas all fighting for a playoff shot.
Let’s take a look at where things stand, the matchups that matter, and what these Texas teams need to do if they want to crash the CFP party. We’ll also peek at the bigger picture—top seeds, first-round drama, and those bubble teams hoping for a miracle.
Texas A&M’s Dominance
Texas A&M keeps rolling, holding firm in the top four of the CFP rankings. They just notched a solid 38-17 win over Missouri, inching closer to their first SEC championship berth.
Quarterback Marcel Reed has been sharp, connecting on 20 of 29 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Rueben Owens chipped in with 102 rushing yards and two scores, making it look pretty easy at times.
The Aggies are still unbeaten, joining Ohio State and Indiana in that rare group. With South Carolina and Samford at home before a finale against Texas, you’d have to say the Aggies are set up nicely for a playoff run.
Key Players
- Marcel Reed: 20 of 29 passes, 221 yards, 2 TDs
- Rueben Owens: 102 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Texas Tech’s Impressive Run
Texas Tech is turning heads in the Big 12, now sitting at 8-1 after a 29-7 win over BYU. The Red Raiders’ defense has been a real story, maybe thanks in part to all that NIL money flowing through the program.
Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams have been pounding the rock, while Jacob Rodriguez led the way on defense with 14 tackles against BYU. Texas Tech is inching closer to a Big 12 title game, and honestly, they look like a legit CFP threat right now.
Key Players
- Cameron Dickey: 121 rushing yards, 1 TD
- J’Koby Williams: 77 rushing yards
- Jacob Rodriguez: 14 tackles
Texas Longhorns’ Quest
The Texas Longhorns are chasing their third straight CFP trip. They’ve dropped two games, but if they can split the last ones against Georgia and Texas A&M, there’s still a case for them—even with three losses.
They had a bye last week, so now it’s all about the looming showdown with Georgia. That’s a rematch of last year’s SEC title game, which should be spicy.
Arch Manning has been a bright spot, averaging 243 passing yards with seven touchdowns and just one pick during the Longhorns’ four-game win streak. Texas will need to crack Georgia’s defense, which held them to just 17 points per game in two meetings last season. No easy task.
Key Players
- Arch Manning: 243 passing yards per game, 7 TDs, 1 INT
Broader Playoff Picture
It’s not just Texas in the spotlight. Ohio State, Alabama, and Georgia are all flexing in their conferences. Ohio State just handled Purdue 34-10, thanks to big games from Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith—both Heisman hopefuls.
Alabama keeps looking like the SEC favorite after a 20-9 win over LSU. Georgia is gearing up for Texas after a 41-21 rout of Mississippi State, so that matchup could really shake up the standings.
Key Matchups
- Ohio State vs. UCLA: Week 12
- Alabama vs. Oklahoma: Week 12
- Georgia vs. Texas: Week 12
Bubble Teams and Dark Horses
Plenty of teams are still clinging to playoff hopes. Notre Dame just made it seven straight wins, blowing out Navy 49-10. South Florida is suddenly a Group of 5 team to watch after putting up 63 points on North Texas.
Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt aren’t out of it either. The Yellow Jackets have Boston College next, and Vandy is chasing a wild 10-win season, with Kentucky and Tennessee still on the schedule. Stranger things have happened, right?
Teams to Watch
- Notre Dame: 7-game winning streak
- South Florida: Strong Group of 5 contender
- Georgia Tech: Facing Boston College in Week 12
- Vanderbilt: Aiming for a 10-win season
Conclusion
The College Football Playoff race is getting wild. There are several Texas teams making a real push for a spot this year.
Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Texas all bring something a little different to the table. Each squad’s got a few crucial games left that could make or break their playoff dreams.
Want to dive into the current playoff projections, possible first-round byes, and which teams are still on the bubble? Take a look at the full article on Sporting News.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
