In a season defined by tough opponents, close losses, and a big finish, Texas has built a resume that merits serious consideration for the College Football Playoff. Here’s why they belong:

Quality Wins + Tough Schedule = Respect

The Longhorns ended their regular season with a major upset: a 27–17 win over the previously undefeated and top-ranked Texas A&M Aggies,  a win that not only denied A&M a perfect regular season, but vaulted Texas into the national conversation. Over the course of 2025, Texas played five top 10 ranked teams and logged three wins over Top-10 teams, a feat very few programs can claim. The last team to have that many wins in the regular season against top 10 teams was 2019 LSU. Their path included multiple matchups against elite competition — not just chasing wins, but earning them. That schedule — arguably one of the most challenging nationally — should count for a lot come playoff Yes, Texas has three losses (9–3 overall), but context matters. Their losses came against top-tier, top-5 teams: Ohio State Buckeyes and Georgia Bulldogs — games many playoff contenders struggle to win.

The narrative: this isn’t a blown-apart team with bad losses — it’s a strong team that just happened to run into elite programs and kept it competitive. That type of schedule strength and loss context often resonates with selection committees when comparing closely matched teams.

Late-Season Momentum and Statement Victory

Ending the regular season with a big rivalry win over no 3. Texas A&M — one that had serious playoff implications — shows the Longhorns peaked at the right time. That kind of momentum heading into postseason consideration matters.

That final win wasn’t just symbolic — it was a clear demonstration that Texas can beat top opponents under pressure. That is exactly the kind of performance the playoff is built to reward.

The “At-Large” Case: Best of the Non-Conference Champions

Because Texas didn’t win the SEC, they’ll be vying for an at-large bid. As one of the few teams with multiple top-10 wins and a brutal schedule, they arguably present one of the strongest at-large resumes in the country — possibly the strongest among non-champions.

In a season where parity is high and several one- or two-loss teams have soft schedules, Texas’s grind-it-out path could prove more valuable than a glossier 11–1 or 10–2 record amassed against weaker opponents.

If Texas were in the Big 12 still, I would understand them being left out because losing to a teams like Kansas State or Colorado would not be acceptable for a playoff team. This is why Texas joined the sec though. For example, if Florida were in the Big 12 they would be favored against every team except Texas Tech. If you play a tough schedule, you should be able to reek the benefits even if the games don’t go your way.

Respect for Ambition — Rewarding Difficulty Over “Easy Wins”

Selecting 2025 Texas wouldn’t just signal recognition of one team — it would send a message: scheduling tough, high-stakes games should be incentivized, not punished. The Longhorns played a hard slate by choice (including elite non-conference matchups) — a decision that adds excitement and accountability to college football. Rewarding that could encourage more programs to follow suit, ultimately strengthening the sport overall. Given the stakes of a playoff system, it matters that teams who challenge themselves — rather than pad records — get their shot. Texas 2025 represents precisely that kind of team.

What president the committee sets if they leave Texas out of the playoff

If Texas didn’t play against Ohio State and went 10-2, they would be a shoe in for the playoff with all those big wins. If Texas is left out of the playoff that sends a message to all teams to cancel their big non-conference games and just schedule cupcakes in September. College football has the best regular season in all of sports and if Texas is left out of the playoff that just shortens the regular season by a month because the first 3-4 weeks in September will consist of some variation of Alabama vs Chattanooga every week until conference play.

Conclusion

Yes — 9–3 isn’t spotless. Yes — other teams also have strong cases. But when you weigh the caliber of competition, the context of losses, the quality wins, and the character of the program — the 2025 Texas Longhorns are one of the four (or at least five-six) most deserving teams in the country.

If the playoff system is about crowning the best teams, not just the best record, then Texas belongs in the 2025 College Football Playoff.