Best In Texas college football rankings.
michael-hogue
President Trump learned a valuable lesson about picking college football games Saturday, at least politically speaking, which goes like this: Always side with the school from the state with the most electoral votes.
Otherwise in Knoxville, 14th-ranked Tennessee made an impression on top-ranked Texas, which insists on making things as difficult as possible each week. Among other sins, the Longhorns gave up six sacks, committed 115 yards worth of penalties and once again failed to establish any sort of running game to make life easier on Arch Manning.
Also, Steve Sarkisian should tell Colin Simmons after his latest sack celebration that if he insists on marking his territory, maybe use chalk instead.
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The good news for the Longhorns is they’re 4-0 with wins over two top-15 teams and, if the offense remains a work in progress, their defense is championship-caliber. Texas collected 10 sacks, which is 10 more than Texas A&M managed in a mugging by LSU. Mike Elko could use a pass rush.
Related: AP top 25 college football poll: Texas stays at No. 1 while Aggies plummet out of rankings
He could also use a running game, a passing game and an explanation for everything that’s gone wrong. A win over an SEC team wouldn’t hurt, either.
In other Best in Texas news, SMU’s Kevin Jennings threw four touchdown passes, including one to Missouri State; Texas Tech’s Austin Romaine turned in pick sixes on consecutive plays; and TCU recorded 11 penalties and four turnovers in a loss to UCF, whose backup quarterback completed all but one of his passes.
Herewith, the latest rankings:
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1. Texas
The Longhorns hijacked an Alabama-Tennessee tradition after their win over the Vols, puffing cigars in the locker room. Next thing you know, they’ll hijack the Sooner Schooner.
Last game: 20-17 win over Tennessee.
Next game: Oklahoma on Oct. 10 at the Cotton Bowl.
2. Texas Tech
If Romaine keeps making this kind of history, I say we name a vegetable after him.
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Last game: 49-14 win over Sam Houston.
Next game: at Colorado.
3. Houston
Conner Weigman, who started out at A&M, accounted for six touchdowns Saturday. Think that would play in Aggieland these days?
Last game: 42-28 win over Georgia Southern.
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4. SMU
Another win, another coach from a Texas school complaining it wasn’t good enough. And it wasn’t.
Last game: 34-24 win over Missouri State.
Next game: Boston College.
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5. Texas A&M
Nothing like a reunion with an old SWC chum to make things right after a rough weekend on the Bayou.
Last game: 35-6 loss to LSU.
6. Baylor
I’m not sure how to explain this, but Dave Aranda is now 39-38 in in his seventh season in Waco.
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Last game: 23-13 win over Colorado.
Next game: at Arizona State.
7. UTSA
Owen McCown, latest in a long line of McCown quarterbacks, passed for 303 yards and three TDs Saturday. He started out at Colorado. Think those numbers would play for Deion now?
Last game: 59-45 win over Colorado State.
8. TCU
The Horned Frogs’ “Highway to Hell” picks up speed this week with a visit from the Big 12’s best team.
Last game: 21-13 loss to UCF.
9. Texas State
Brad Jackson, who passed for five touchdowns Saturday, gets to pick on someone his own size this week in the Bobcats’ Pac-12 opener.
Last game: 63-10 win over Incarnate Word.
Next game: at San Diego State.
10. North Texas
Did you know Houston Christian used to be Houston Baptist before a name change in 2022? The things you learn here.
Last game: 63-14 win over HCU.
Next game: Tulsa on Thursday.
11. Rice
Is it bad when a running back averages 15.2 YPC against your defense?
Last game: 38-24 loss to Fresno State.
12. Sam Houston
The 1-3 Bearkats’ winning streak crashes to a halt.
Last game: 49-14 loss to Texas Tech.
Next game: at Liberty on Oct. 8.
13. UTEP
After giving up 51, 51 and 52 points in their first three games, the Miners avoid a fourth game of a half-hundred hung on ‘em.
Last game: 33-7 loss to Oregon State.
Next game: at New Mexico.