**Texas’ College Football Playoff Chances After a Split Week: Beating Kentucky but Falling to Texas A& **
The Texas Longhorns entered the season with high hopes, fueled by strong performances, a talented roster, and legitimate CFP aspirations. However, a hypothetical scenario where Texas beats Kentucky but loses to Texas A&M throws a wrench into their playoff hopes, leaving fans and analysts debating their chances.
### The Split: Dominating Kentucky, Stumbling Against A&M
In this scenario, Texas delivers an impressive win over Kentucky, showcasing their prowess against a strong SEC opponent. Such a victory would likely bolster their strength of schedule and appeal to the CFP selection committee, especially if Kentucky has a solid season. However, a loss to Texas A&M in the rivalry game undermines that momentum, especially given A&M’s potential reputation this season. The Aggies are known for their unpredictability, and losing to them would add a blemish Texas could ill afford.
### Texas’ Resume: Strengths and Weaknesses
On the positive side, Texas has quality wins, including the potential victory over Kentucky, and their earlier marquee win against Alabama (assuming it still holds weight). These victories provide a strong narrative for their CFP case. Additionally, if the Longhorns perform well in the Big 12, securing a conference championship, that could further solidify their argument.
However, the loss to A&M complicates the picture. It not only disrupts their momentum but also adds a non-conference loss late in the season, which the committee may heavily scrutinize. The optics of losing a rivalry game, especially one against a team with an inconsistent track record, could hurt Texas in the eyes of decision-makers.
### The Competition: Other Teams in the Mix
Texas’ chances depend heavily on the landscape of college football. If other top teams like Georgia, Michigan, or Washington remain undefeated or suffer fewer losses, Texas’ path narrows. Even within the Big 12, teams like Oklahoma could complicate matters if they finish strong. Additionally, one-loss teams from stronger conferences (e.g., the SEC or Big Ten) might be favored over Texas, especially if their losses were against higher-ranked opponents.
### Key Factors for the Longhorns
1. **Conference Championship:** Winning the Big 12 remains paramount. A conference title could serve as a trump card against other one-loss teams.
2. **Quality of Losses:** The nature of the loss to A&M—whether it was close or a blowout—could influence the committee’s perception. A narrow defeat might be less damaging.
3. **Strength of Schedule:** Wins over teams like Alabama and Kentucky would carry weight, but the Big 12’s overall reputation this season could be a factor.
4. **Chaos in College Football:** Texas would benefit from chaos—multiple losses by other CFP contenders could open the door for the Longhorns.
### Final Thoughts
If Texas beats Kentucky but loses to Texas A&M, their CFP hopes hang by a thread. They would need to dominate the rest of their schedule, win the Big 12 convincingly, and hope for favorable results elsewhere. While a playoff spot isn’t entirely out of reach, the Longhorns would be walking a tightrope, relying on both their resume and a bit of luck to secure a spot in the final four.
In the end, the CFP selection committee’s criteria—valuing conference championships, strength of schedule, and quality wins—will determine whether Texas’ mixed results are enough to keep their national championship dreams alive.
