Texas
Does Texas Football still have a chance at the CFP? Odds crash after Georgia ‘Disaster’
Do the Texas Longhorns still have a shot at the college football playoff? Before the Georgia game, the ESPN FPI playoff bracket predictor gave Texas a 64% chance if they lost to the Bulldogs yet still won its remaining two games. But the manner in which UT lost has seen those odds nose dive.
Saturday night’s 35-10 loss to Georgia in Athens was the worst loss of Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s tenure in Austin. After the game, Sark and the Longhorns leaders knew they were thoroughly dominated.
“The fourth quarter was, for lack of better terms, a disaster,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said after the game. “We got beat 21-0 in the fourth quarter.”
“It was a disaster,” Texas defensive lineman Colin Simmons said. “We didn’t finish.”
“They kicked our butts in all three phases,” Taaffe said. “We messed up a lot of stuff.”
“I’m frustrated and disappointed we didn’t play better,” Texas quarterback Arch Manning said. “We just didn’t play well.”
While the Longhorns hung around until the fourth quarter, they were still out played from the beginning. Texas’ offensive line was pushed around all night by a Bulldogs defensive front that has been seen as UGA’s weakness all season.
UT’s defense played well for a long stretch in the middle of the game, but ultimately gave up 35 points and let Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton account for five touchdowns. The ‘Dawgs also ran for 128 yards on the Horns defense. While the defense is ahead of the offense, it has still been picked apart several times this season.
What did the loss do to Texas CFP chances? It crushed them.
When the computer models put Texas’ chances at 64% last week, it didn’t account for the Longhorns getting humiliated in Athens. But that’s what happened. UT will probably fall several spots, if not completely out, of this week’s the Top 25 rankings as most voters have no doubt completely lost faith Texas.
The computer model currently puts the Longhorns chances at the CFP at 20%. That’s behind the likes of Virginia, BYU and even North Texas. The computers don’t have faith Texas can win its final two games.
What if the Longhorns beat Arkansas and upset the Texas A&M Aggies? The odds aren’t 64% anymore. The ESPN FPI gives Texas a 45% chance to make the CFP if they win out.
Texas would need a lot of help and make a huge impression against the Aggies to have any shot at all. UT would be at the mercy of the CFP committee. The field is very crowded and 9-3 is probably not good enough to get into the bracket.
The most likely outcome to the Longhorns season will be an appearance in the Gator Bowl or something similar and an offseason filled with frustration and questions about the program’s health as a whole.
A day off at the pool — and a little sunburn — didn’t stop the Minnesota Twins’ momentum.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins went on to complete a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday.
Minnesota has won four games in a row and scored 25 runs in the three-games series in Texas. The two teams had a rare, mid-series day off on Wednesday with the England-Croatia World Cup game being played in Arlington.
“We’re locked in every day,” Lee told Audra Martin on the team’s broadcast. “Yesterday, taking time off, lay out by the pool, get a little burnt and then right back to it. We did a good job getting focused. I feel like we do that with rain delays, too, just lock back in and we’re doing it.”
Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter (3-7). Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna. Larnach’s third hit was an RBI single in the fifth, and Ryan Kriedler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Joe Ryan (5-3) struck out seven but needed 97 pitches to get through five scoreless innings while allowing three singles. Leiter was done after the fourth, and has given up 17 runs while losing three starts in a row.
The Twins never trailed in the sweep that extended their winning streak to four, matching their longest this season. Their 14-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best for any American League opponent since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue hit solo homers for the Rangers, who have lost five of six games. They are 0-15 when giving up multiple runs in the first inning.
Twins DH Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had an RBI single before Lee’s homer. Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the series-opening 4-2 win Monday, and had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the first of a 12-2 win on Tuesday.
“We’re just passing the baton each time,” Lee said of the offensive output. “Our guys are hot. They feel good and they came out swinging today. It was awesome to see. We’ve done that for a while now.”
Up next
Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) starts Friday at Arizona. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11).
Watch CBS News
A Texas state trooper was killed in a crash in the Panhandle, becoming the 244th Texas Department of Public Safety officer to die in the line of duty since 1823, according to the agency.
Sergio Romero, 27, died Wednesday after a semi-truck pulled in front of him as he attempted a traffic stop around 4 p.m. on U.S. 287 in Childress County, DPS said.
In a statement, Col. Freeman F. Martin praised Romero’s courage, integrity, and service.
“Today, we grieve the loss of one of our own,” Martin said. “… Our hearts break alongside his family, friends, fellow troopers, and all who loved him. We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice he made in service of his fellow Texans.”
Romero previously served with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office before joining DPS as part of Class B-2025 in Childress, the agency said.
He is survived by his wife, Francisca, and their two young sons.
Funeral arrangements are pending. The crash remains under investigation.
-
Montana26 seconds agoNewly released documents shed light on Montana PSC dispute
-
Nebraska8 minutes agoNebraska Dept. of Agriculture proposes ban on food and beverages containing any amount of THC
-
Nevada10 minutes agoWOW Carwash touts year-round water conservation with recycling tech in Southern Nevada
-
New Hampshire15 minutes agoConcord celebrates 237 years of Constitution ratification with festivities – Concord Monitor
-
New Jersey22 minutes agoIs ICE giving up on Roxbury detention center? NJ leaders laud report
-
New Mexico25 minutes agoNew Mexico leaders push funding to fight screwworm after 1 local case
-
North Carolina31 minutes ago
Rare whale shark sighting off North Carolina coast
-
North Dakota38 minutes agoNDSU, Dickinson State partner to expand nursing education
