Projected final 2020 College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings after Week 16

Texas stayed ahead of Oklahoma State in the penultimate set of College Football Playoff rankings, and they will remain anchored ahead of the Cowboys when the selection committee puts forth its final Top 25 of the year. Speculation about Tom Herman’s job has cooled some in Austin after athletic director Chris Del Conte came out in support of his football coach. The seat is still warm, though, as Longhorns fans expect to challenge for a College Football Playoff spot rather than a token spot at the back end of the committee rankings.

With 2020 not counting against eligibility, the big question in Austin is whether quarterback Sam Ehlinger will return in 2021 to try for another shot at a Big 12 title and national glory. Ehlinger could surpass Colt McCoy in all of the career passing records for the Longhorns if he returns for a fifth season. Defense was the bigger issue for Texas this year, as they gave up an average of 29 points and just under 410 yards per game to their opponents.

With no shot this year at landing a New Year’s Six bid, not everyone will be happy with the decision to keep Herman around another season. Texas will look to end the year on a high note in whatever bowl takes them in, and they will go back to the drawing board this offseason to prepare for another edition of “this is the year” for Texas football.