The college football regular season is over, and the action-packed 12-team playoff is around the corner. One of those top teams is the Texas Longhorns, who are seeded at number 5 and set to play the Clemson Tigers on Dec. 21.
The Longhorns finished the 2024-25 regular season with 11 wins and 2 losses. This is an impressive record considering that the team is playing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). However, a deeper analysis of their schedule is needed to understand how they got to the playoffs.
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The strength of schedule ranking (SOS) is a key tool that helps people determine how good a team is by measuring their opponents. Texas had an SOS Ranking of 36, which means they had the 36th hardest schedule in the nation.
Although this may seem high, 36th puts Texas near the bottom of the SEC when looking at the SOS. This begs the question: is Texas actually a top team in college football? Or are they beneficiaries of a weak schedule?
The Longhorn’s best victories were a win at Michigan in week 2 (31-12) and a road win against Texas A&M (17-7) in week 12. Michigan, initially ranked 10th, finished 7-5, weakening the win’s credibility.
The victory against Texas A&M was also unimpressive. The Longhorns could only score 17 points against a defense not ranked in the top 20. The rest of the Longhorn’s schedule consisted of low-level (SEC) teams such as Kentucky, Arkansas and Mississippi State.
The biggest knock on Texas is their inability to defeat one top opponent. This season, Texas lost twice to the Georgia Bulldogs.
The first matchup was a (30-15) defeat for the Longhorns. They would then lose (22-19) in the (SEC) title game. Texas struggled offensively in both games against Georgia, particularly when trying to move the ball.
Texas’s inability to move the ball is a theme that plagued their season. Former 5-star recruit Quinn Ewers has struggled with health and turnover problems all season. His multiple interceptions played a huge part in both losses to the Georgia Bulldogs.
These key losses have made people question the legitimacy of Texas’s season. They have struggled or lost against all the top (SEC) teams they have played. How are people supposed to believe a team is legitimate if they can’t come through in the big games?
Omar Hamzeh, a Sage Creek freshman and massive college football fan, is optimistic about Texas’s playoff campaign.
They are excited for the game.
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“I believe the Texas Longhorns are a legit contender for the natty (national championship) but in big games, they do not perform to their fullest which can lead to them having an exit in the playoffs,” he said.
However, not all Sage Creek students believe that Texas is a top team. Avid college football fan and Sage Creek student Eric Han wants nothing to do with the Longhorns.
“I believe that Texas Football is trash and highly overrated. They are the worst team ever,” Han said.
Luckily for Texas fans, they defeated the Clemson Tigers and Arizona State Sun Devils to kick off their playoff journey. A crucial win in their semifinal matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes would punch their ticket to the national championship game.
The expectation for a team full of top 5-star talent is winning. Will Texas prove its dominance in the college football playoff? Or are they just another pretender?
