Steve Sarkisian Makes His Playoff Case But Here’s Why Texas Doesn't Belong

After a resounding win at home against arch-rival Texas A&M, the only remaining undefeated team in the SEC, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian made his pitch for the Longhorns to be the final team in the playoffs.

Sark claims it would be a disservice to the sport if Texas were left out of the playoff, arguing that they battled through an intense SEC schedule, their only out-of-conference loss came against an undefeated Ohio State team, and they out-gained the Buckeyes by 200 yards. The Longhorns are currently 9-3, and no three-loss team has ever made the College Football Playoff. But has this Texas team done enough to steal one more playoff spot from the SEC?

The simple answer is no.

Sark’s central argument is that Texas could have scheduled an easier non-conference slate, and had they done so, they’d likely be in the playoff. It’s a fair point on the surface, but it rings hollow considering the SEC still plays only an eight-game conference schedule. And even if Texas replaced Ohio State with a lesser opponent, who’s to say they’d win that game?

Texas lost to a Florida team that won only two conference games, needed a miracle in overtime to beat Mississippi State, and barely escaped in overtime against a weak Kentucky squad. Even at 10-2, Texas would be on the fringe of the playoff — not a lock for it.

As for their wins, yes, Texas has three ranked victories, but none are all that impressive. They won the Red River Rivalry against an Oklahoma team with a quarterback who couldn’t throw. They beat a Vanderbilt program that folds in every big moment. And their win against Texas A&M came against an Aggies team that didn’t face a single team in the top half of the SEC this year — meaning A&M might simply be average, not elite.

But the biggest reason Texas shouldn’t sniff the playoff is straightforward: they’re a three-loss team that got punked by a terrible Florida team. Throw out all the would-have, could-have, should-have arguments — Texas didn’t beat Florida, and that alone sinks them.

Not only that, but they weren’t competitive in either of their marquee matchups against Ohio State and Georgia. Out-gaining Ohio State might look nice on a stat sheet, but if you watched the game, the result was never in doubt. The Buckeyes controlled it from kickoff to final whistle.

The games have to matter. Emotions were high after beating a rival, but if the committee lets Texas back into the playoff with the résumé they’ve put together this season, then the system truly is a sham.