Texas reaches the edge and Jerry Palm breaks it down originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Texas is back in the familiar gray area where hope and math collide. The Longhorns still have a chance, thin as it may be, and when the postseason picture gets blurry, Jerry Palm is the voice you go to. His new site PalmBrackets.com and his growing podcast have become essential for fans who want a realistic read on where the committee is leaning.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPalm spoke to the Sporting News and walked through the scenarios, the pressure, and the questions swirling around the program.
SN: If Texas wins and gets a lot of help, could they backdoor their way into the playoff?
Jerry: Ten wins is the floor for an at large bid. It is hard to imagine that scenario. Even if the Aggies were to lose, they would still be a top six team in the rankings.
SN: What’s your assessment of Arch Manning so far?
Jerry: He clearly had some moments, but the expectations were so unrealistic. You are asking him to come into a program like Texas and dominate right away. The Longhorns were expecting Peyton Manning to walk through the door. It is not Peyton, it is Arch.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn his defense, he looked bad against Ohio State, but that is what Ohio State does. They make you look bad. He also had some pretty good moments and assuming he is back next year, that is where the leap should come because he will have absorbed the full playbook and he will be more comfortable playing that schedule. I think Arch will be fine.
MORE: Mike Gundy to North Texas and other candidates to replace Eric Morris
SN: Is there any scenario where a blowout loss on Friday puts Steve Sarkisian on the hot seat?
Jerry: They were one of the top teams in the playoffs last year and it would not surprise me if they return to it next year. Keep in mind, it is hard. There are seven other top ranked teams that join them from that conference much of the year and they had a brutal schedule.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Florida loss is their only bad one to me, but on October fourth nobody knew at that time that the Gators would have eight losses. Even with a loss on Friday, three of their four losses would be to number one Ohio State, number three A&M and number four Georgia. Do you consider firing your coach because you lose to Florida?
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