Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) and wide receiver Parker Livingstone (13) celebrate a touchdown in the second quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) and wide receiver Parker Livingstone (13) celebrate a touchdown in the second quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

The path to the SEC championship game was shut last week for the Texas Longhorns in their loss to Georgia, but the door to a third straight College Football Playoff appearance is still cracked open as they host old Southwest Conference/current SEC rival Arkansas at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Texas’ CFP path? Beat the Razorbacks impressively, then beat No. 3 Texas A&M impressively in next Friday’s regular-season finale at DKR. And also hope it gets some help from other teams around the country in these final two weeks.

Article continues below this ad

MORE: How to watch Arkansas vs. Texas, see start time, TV channel

MORE: Steve Sarkisian rumors are just the latest distraction for Texas to block

MORE: How a mother’s sacrifice fueled Daymion Sanford’s rise as a Texas A&M breakout star

The Texas-Arkansas game is one of several top matchups for Week 13. Here’s how American-Statesman college beat writers Tony Catalina, Danny Davis, David Eckert, Thomas Jones and Caleb Yum and Statesman columnist Cedric Golden are picking 15 top matchups.

Article continues below this ad

The season: 1. Golden 125-55; 2. Davis 121-59; 3. Catalina 117-63; Jones 116-64; Yum 113-67; Eckert 103-77

Last week: Jones 11-4, Golden 10-5, Yum 10-5, Davis 9-6, Catalina 9-6, Eckert 8-7

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) celebrates with head coach Mike Elko after win against South Carolina on Nov. 15, 2025, in College Station.

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) celebrates with head coach Mike Elko after win against South Carolina on Nov. 15, 2025, in College Station.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Week 13 games

Arkansas at No. 17 Texas (2:30 p.m., ABC): Arkansas — None; Texas — Catalina, Davis, Eckert, Golden, Jones and Yum

Article continues below this ad

Samford at No. 3 Texas A&M (11 a.m., SEC Network+): Samford — None; Texas A&M — Catalina, Davis, Eckert, Golden, Jones and Yum

No. 22 Missouri at No. 8 Oklahoma (11 a.m., ABC): Missouri — Catalina, Eckert; Oklahoma — Davis, Golden, Jones and Yum

No. 15 USC at No. 7 Oregon (2:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock): USC — Catalina; Oregon — Davis, Eckert, Golden, Jones and Yum

Kentucky at No. 14 Vanderbilt (2:30 p.m., ESPN): Kentucky — None; Vanderbilt — Catalina, Davis, Eckert, Golden, Jones and Yum

Article continues below this ad

Kansas State at No. 12 Utah (3 p.m., ESPN2): Kansas State — None; Utah — Catalina, Davis, Eckert, Golden, Jones and Yum

TCU at No. 23 Houston (3 p.m., Fox): TCU — Yum; Houston — Catalina, Davis, Eckert, Golden and Jones

Pittsburgh at No. 16 Georgia Tech (6 p.m., ESPN): Pitt — Golden, Yum; Georgia Tech — Catalina, Davis, Eckert and Jones

No. 20 Tennessee at Florida (6:30 p.m., ABC): Tennessee — Catalina, Eckert, Golden, Jones and Yum; Florida — Davis

Article continues below this ad

No. 21 Illinois at Wisconsin (6:30 p.m., Big Ten Network): Illinois — Catalina, Davis, Golden, Jones and Yum; Wisconsin — Eckert

Nebraska at Penn State (6 p.m., NBC): Nebraska — Davis, Eckert, Jones and Yum; Penn State — Catalina, Golden

Washington at UCLA (9:30 p.m., NBC): Washington — Davis, Eckert, Golden, Jones and Yum; UCLA — Catalina

Baylor at Arizona (noon, TNT): Baylor — None; Arizona — Catalina, Davis, Eckert, Golden, Jones and Yum

Article continues below this ad

No. 11 BYU at Cincinnati (7 p.m., Fox): BYU — Catalina, Golden, Jones and Yum; Cincinnati — Davis, Eckert

Louisiana-Monroe at Texas State (4 p.m., ESPN+): ULM — Davis, Jones; Texas State — Catalina, Eckert, Golden and Yum