Wild CFP Scenario Unveiled for Arch Manning, Texas Longhorns

By Matthew Schmidt

Contributing Sports Writer

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The Texas Longhorns' hopes of making the College Football Playoff suffered a massive blow last week, as they were hammered by the Georgia Bulldogs to fall to 7-3 on the season.

Texas has two regular-season games remaining against Arkansas and No. 3 Texas A&M, and while 9-3 typically won't get you into the CFP, college football analyst Josh Pate has outlined a scenario in which the Longhorns could still get in.

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"What if they just beat A&M 35-10 or something like that?" Pate said. "Just like a really, really weird, emphatic, resounding upset. And then their season's done, and they're 9-3, and they just got one of the best wins of the season. How high could they jump? ... Plus, you know since it's Texas, that drum would get beat for an entire week."

The Longhorns entered the season ranked No. 1 in the country thanks much in part to quarterback Arch Manning, who was viewed by many as the top NFL Draft prospect heading into 2025.

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But thanks much in part to some early struggles from Manning, Texas has been a major disappointment, with one of its three losses coming against the Florida Gators on Oct. 4.

Manning has certainly turned it around over the last month, leading the Longhorns to huge wins over Oklahoma and Vanderbilt to re-enter the CFP conversation, but there is no doubt the loss to Georgia stung.

Does it rule out Texas entirely? No, but as Pate noted: it would likely take a monster win over Texas A&M in order for the Longhorns to sneak into the playoff, and even, there is no guarantee.

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Of course, it all starts with avoiding an upset at the hands of Arkansas on Saturday. Assuming the Longhorns win that game, it would set up quite the showdown with the Aggies at home on Friday, Nov. 28.

At the moment, Texas is 17th in the CFP rankings. As you know, only 12 teams can get in, so there is definitely some work to be done for the Longhorns, and they may also need some help.

For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.

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