College Football Playoff prediction: Why Texas can overcome inconsistencies, win national championship

When Texas announced plans to enter the SEC, the Longhorns immediately embarked on a 5-7 season in 2021 that was historic for all the wrong reasons. Since that moment, Texas has truly brought itself back from the brink and now stands alone as the only SEC team remaining in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. 

On paper, the Longhorns are the highest-ranked team remaining in the field as the No. 3 team in the rankings and 5-seed in the bracket. Texas narrowly beats out No. 4-ranked and 6-seed Penn State for the honors. Regardless, Vegas is bearish on their chances, giving them odds behind heavy favorite Ohio State and even Notre Dame. The Longhorns are 6-point underdogs against the 8-seed Buckeyes despite playing in their home state of Texas for the Cotton Bowl. 

Granted, Texas surely didn’t look the part of a national champion during a double-overtime win against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. But since the 2023 season, the Longhorns have simply kept winning. A bit of skepticism is fair, but the Texas Longhorns have no business flying under the radar into the semifinals. 

Here’s why Texas still has a very serious chance to win the College Football Playoff, led by the defensive playmakers that have carried the team. 

1. Stifling defense

For all the praise of Texas coach Steve Sarkisian as an offensive wizard, the defense has carried the team. The Longhorns rank No. 3 nationally in total defense and allow only 4.28 yards per play. The number matches Michigan’s 2023 national championship defense, and the Longhorns are even more disruptive against the pass. 

Texas allows a nation-leading 5.5 yards per pass attempt and 166.1 passing yards per game total. More astonishing, the Longhorns have allowed only eight touchdown passes ……

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-prediction-why-texas-can-overcome-inconsistencies-win-national-championship/

Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2025-01-07 14:45:00

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