College Football Playoff potential party-crashers after Week 11 rankings
By Josh Yourish
There are five undefeated teams at the top of the College Football Playoff rankings, and with all five winning in Week 10, the top 5 didn’t change this week. All of the top eight teams stayed put from the first rankings last week, to the second CFP rankings on Tuesday night.
It can’t stay this way forever, we know that there will eventually be a shakeup in the top 4 playoff spots and there are a few teams ready to strike and crash the party. These are the teams most primed to crash the party, the teams outside the current top six who have a chance to claim a spot in the College Football Playoff.
CFP party-crashers: No. 7 Texas
All this comes down to is the health of Quinn Ewers. Texas is in front of Alabama with the head-to-head win and that’s pulling a lot of weight right now after an overtime win against Kansas State and a close game with Houston in back-to-back weeks. Meanwhile, Alabama beat No. 13 LSU and is still behind the Longhorns.
Texas is 18th in total offense and Jonathon Brooks has developed into one of the best running backs in the country. He’s carrying the Longhorns while Ewers is injured, but once Ewers is back he’ll be a great compliment to the passing game.
The defense is stout and ranks 32nd in the country. It is 10th against the run, but 96th against the pass. That’s how Dillon Gabriel and Oklahoma beat Steve Sarkisian’s team. Texas could still have an opportunity to avenge that loss in the Big 12 championship, but Oklahoma is fading fast.
With TCU, Iowa State, and Texas Tech left on the schedule, the Longhorns are very likely to win out. One-loss conference champs almost always get in. Then again, they may not survive long enough to get their quarterback healthy.