It wasn’t quite the same postgame euphoria as last week when Texas beat Ohio State, but Arch Manning and the Longhorns walked off winners over UTSA.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas and Texas Tech are the only two unbeaten teams in the state after a week that saw Texas A&M upset at home by Kentucky as well as UH falling in Lubbock and UTSA in Austin.
The Chronicle’s rankings for the 13 FBS teams in Texas:
1. Texas (3-0) | Last week: 1
Steve Sarkisian did a full postgame interview with SEC Network+ sideline reporter Austyn Iven, answering three questions before heading off to “The Eyes of Texas.” That was about the only part of the Longhorns’ game that improved from last week’s win over Ohio State. The 30-6 win this week over UTSA was rather non-descript save for some big hits on a scrambling Arch Manning and edge rusher Colin Simmons wearing a boot after the game as a “precautionary” measure.
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2. Texas Tech (3-0) | Last week: 4
The Red Raiders are still throwing in the fourth quarter — not to rub it in as booster Cody Campbell suggested they would after an offseason of controversy over quarterback Brendan Sorsby but because they’ve had to. Will Hammond is doing just fine.
3. Houston (2-1) | Last week: 3
Willie Fritz is right, there are no “moral victories,” so Houston’s 28-26 loss to Tech is just that, a loss.
4. Texas A&M (2-1) | Last week: 2
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth got the biggest cheers of the day at Kyle Field. The Aggies got the Ted Cruz-on-ESPN’s “College GameDay” in Austin treatment in a 31-21 loss to Kentucky.
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5. SMU (2-1) | Last week: 5
The Mustangs may need to invest some of their NFL money on defense after Louisville ran over the Ponies.
6. UTSA (2-1) | Last week: 6
So UTSA coach Jeff Traylor doesn’t want to play the Longhorns anymore? His team’s 30-6 loss could have been worse, and there is that $1.7 million check.
7. Baylor (2-1) | Last week: 8
Quarterback Nate Bennett is 2-0 in place of injured DJ Lagway. The wins have been over Prairie View and Louisiana Tech.
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8. TCU (1-1) | Last week: 9
The Horned Frogs didn’t put away Arkansas State until the final seconds of the third quarter and final period. “Big-time players make big plays in big moments, and I thought we did that,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. OK, Coach.
9. Texas State (1-2) | Last week: 10
The Bobcats’ 49-35 over North Texas was more like what we expected. One more week before Pac-12 play.
10. North Texas (1-2) | Last week: 7
After a good showing against Indiana and a win over UNLV, the Mean Green got a reality check in their loss to Texas State.
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11. Rice (1-2) | Last week: 11
The Owls scored with 9 seconds left against Western Michigan, but the refs didn’t put any more time on the clock and Rice lost its second in a row, 28-21.
12. Sam Houston (1-2) | Last week: 13
You have to be happy for the Bearkats, who spent last season on the road while Bowers Stadium was being remodeled. They got a 59-0 win over Nicholls at home behind quarterback Landyn Locke’s 322 yards passing and four TDs. It was the most points for Sam Houston since moving up to FBS in 2023.
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13. UTEP (1-2) | Last week: 12
After leading twice against Michigan in the first half, the Miners lost 52-17 and fell to 4-63 against AP Top 25 teams. Moral victory? Willie Fritz says no.