What surprises could come in the initial poll

The much-anticipated College Football Playoff rankings are set to make their debut on Tuesday night, and all eyes are on the Texas Longhorns, hoping to see their name mentioned among the top contenders.

This season stands out for Texas with an impressive 7-1 record leading into November, an uncommon achievement for the team. The Longhorns have been proving themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian wasted no time in campaigning for a high ranking in the poll. He boldly claimed that Texas’ dominant 10-point road victory over Alabama was the best win in the entire country, leaving no room for doubt regarding the team’s capabilities. The Longhorns outscored Alabama 21-8 in the fourth quarter, asserting their superiority.

So, where does that put Texas in the rankings? Currently, undefeated teams like Ohio State, Florida State, Washington, Georgia, and Michigan are widely recognized as top contenders. Oregon may also find itself ranked higher than Texas, but who else?

Of course, the Oklahoma Sooners hold a head-to-head victory over Texas, with a 34-30 win on their record. However, many argue that Oklahoma’s loss to Kansas revealed their vulnerability, counteracting any argument for a higher ranking.

When considering other one-loss teams, there are no reasonable cases for ranking them above Texas. Penn State, for example, suffered a two-score defeat to Ohio State in their sole premier matchup. Similarly, Ole Miss was bested by Alabama, a team that Texas thoroughly dominated.

Undefeated teams like Air Force and James Madison lack the resume to surpass Texas in the rankings.

The playoff committee has been known to surprise in the past, but it is expected that the Longhorns will be placed around the No. 7 or No. 8 spot. The rankings will be announced at 6 p.m. CT.

Read the original story on Longhorns Wire