By Evan MasseyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberArch Manning and the Texas Longhorns have made things difficult ahead of the College Football Playoff. After looking dead in the water earlier this season, the Longhorns were able to pull off a convincing win over No. 3 ranked Texas A&M on Friday night to close out their regular season.
When all was said and done in the major rivalry matchup, Texas was able to take home a huge win by a final score of 27-17.
Following the win, the Longhorns now hold a 9-3 record. Many still expect them to miss the playoffs, but it brings up an interesting question.
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While most programs across the country had easy schedules to open up the season, Texas opted to face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Week 1 in Columbus. Steve Sarkisian's team lost that game by seven points. Without that loss, the Longhorns would almost certainly be in the playoff picture right now.
...The question that the committee will have to answer is whether or not Texas should be punished for not playing a cupcake game to open up its season.
That being said, notable college football analyst Paul Finebaum spoke out with a definitive statement about the Longhorns. He believes they should be in the College Football Playoff without question.
“Texas decided to go to Ohio State and play a meaningful game,” Finebaum said. “One of the biggest games in college football. Had they played Kennesaw State, which Indiana played, or Oklahoma State, one of the worst teams in the country, which Oregon played, they wouldn’t be in this situation. In my mind, Texas belongs in the College Football Playoff even with that record.”
Sarkisian also spoke out clearly following his team's win over Texas A&M and made his case for the Longhorns to make the playoff.
“It would be a disservice to our sport if this team is not a playoff team," Sarkisian said after the game.
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It's a difficult question to answer. There are teams with fewer losses, but Texas opted to play an aggressive schedule. Almost beating Ohio State, the current No. 1 team in the country, on the road to begin the season should not be held against the Longhorns.
Only time will tell, but Finebaum clearly believes that Texas should be in the College Football Playoff.
For more on the Texas Longhorns and college football news, head to Newsweek Sports.
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