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Best In Texas college football rankings.<\/p>\n
michael-hogue<\/p>\n
Here at Best in Texas<\/a> headquarters, we try not to overreact. Immediacy and intensity must prevail over emotion, as Coach Saban says. He might have had a third thing, too, but I’ve lost my notes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Anyway, losing in September doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of the College Football Playoff business, but ask Texas what a loss to Florida did for its bid last year, when the Longhorns coughed up their chances on the road.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas A&M lost at home.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n To a basketball school<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: AP college football poll: Texas stays on top; How far do SMU, Texas A&M fall after losses?<\/a><\/p>\n Everything Mike Elko has done in fashioning a tough, take-no-prisoners approach to the game in College Station came unraveled against Kentucky. The Wildcats pushed the Aggies all over the field. Marcel Reed’s accuracy and decision-making aren’t getting any better, either. Thus comes a deep dive down the rankings for A&M this week<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n In other BIT news, Texas Tech salvaged its CFP hopes with a come-from-behind win over a plucky Houston squad<\/a>; SMU’s playoff bus took a serious dent<\/a> in a collision with Louisville; and Texas overcame its hangover from the Ohio State win just in time to shove\u00a0UTSA out the door<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Herewith, the rankings:\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 1. Texas<\/p>\n A bad week for Arch Manning<\/a> didn\u2019t get any better against the Roadrunners, who roughed him up almost as much as the national media did after his ill-advised humor at Holly Rowe\u2019s expense<\/a>. Maybe Manning needs an emergency like the fourth quarter against Ohio State to be at his best. If so, he could get it this week.<\/p>\n Last game: 30-6 win over UTSA.<\/p>\n Next game: at No. 14 Tennessee.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2. Texas Tech<\/p>\n Joey McGuire is keeping receipts of everyone who picks against the Red Raiders this year. Says it fires \u2018em up. Hard to know if this ranking is too high or too low to suit his purposes.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Last game: 28-26 win over Houston.<\/p>\n Next game: Sam Houston.\u00a0<\/p>\n 3. Houston<\/p>\n The Cougars, who went 6-0 on the road last year, were due for a regression, but they made their point at Galaxy Stadium.\u00a0BYU may yet have a say in it, but don\u2019t be surprised if Houston gets a rematch with Tech in the Big 12 title game.<\/p>\n Last game: 28-26 loss to Texas Tech.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Next game: Georgia Southern.\u00a0<\/p>\n 4. SMU<\/p>\n Hey,\u00a0Rhett Lashlee: Next time you\u2019re thinking about going for it on fourth-and-2 from your own 33 in the first quarter on the road against a ranked team<\/a>, call me.<\/p>\n Last game: 41-31 loss to Louisville.\u00a0<\/p>\n Next game: Missouri State. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 5. Texas A&M<\/p>\n First you get humbled in your own house<\/a> by a basketball school. Then said school trolls you with a picture of a chewed-up dog collar and a tag that reads, \u201cGood Boy.\u201d Finishing touch: \u201cGigged \u2018em.\u201d Can\u2019t wait to see which losing team has the bigger bounce-back game this week in Baton Rouge.<\/p>\n Last game: 31-21 loss to Kentucky.<\/p>\n Next game: at No. 10 LSU.\u00a0<\/p>\n 6. TCU<\/p>\n Maybe the Horned Frogs<\/a> are still hurting from their little dust-up with the local paper. Maybe it\u2019s jet lag from the Ireland trip. Whatever it is, they need to get going.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Last game: 31-7 win over Arkansas State.<\/p>\n 7. Baylor<\/p>\n DJ\u00a0Lagway may return at quarterback this week, and not a moment too soon for the Bears.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n