Longhorns Country

College Football Playoff Predictions: Texas Projected as No. 8 Seed

The Texas Longhorns are still expected to make the College Football Playoff this season, even if that means doing so without an SEC Championship.
Zach Dimmitt|
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) runs the ball during the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semifinals game against the Washington Huskies at the Caesars Superdome on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) runs the ball during the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semifinals game against the Washington Huskies at the Caesars Superdome on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Texas Longhorns

AUSTIN -- The Texas Longhorns enter their first season in the SEC with the program-level expectation that anything short of a conference championship and College Football Playoff berth will be a disappointment.

Their path to making it to the CFP without an SEC title is of course much easier now with the inaugural 12-team playoff this season. In a recent playoff bracket prediction from On3’s JD PicKell, the Longhorns are in the mix for the National Championship but will hardly have the easiest path imaginable toward achieving the ultimate goal. 

Quinn Ewers
Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) is pressured by Washington Huskies safety Mishael Powell (3) during the fourth quarter in the 2024 Sugar Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports | John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

PicKell has Texas as a No. 8 seed in the bracket with a first-round home matchup against No. 9 Notre Dame on tap. The Longhorns beat the 10th-ranked Fighting Irish during a memorable 50-47 double-overtime win in Austin to begin the 2016 season. Could history repeat itself at DKR with a trip to the CFP Semifinals on the line? 

Take a look at the bracket:

Here’s how PicKell seeded each CFP team:

1. Georgia (SEC Champion)

2. Oregon (Big Ten Champion)

3. Miami (ACC Champion)

4. Utah (Big 12 Champion)

5. Ole Miss

6. Ohio State

7. Florida State

8. Texas

9. Notre Dame

10. Alabama

11. Tennessee

12. Appalachian State (Sun Belt Champion)

In this scenario, the Longhorns don't exactly get a favorable draw, as they would have to face No. 1 seed Georgia in the Semifinals if they were to take down Notre Dame. While Texas and coach Steve Sarkisian would hardly back down from a matchup against the Bulldogs, the Longhorns would be doing themselves a favor if they secure a first-round bye by winning the SEC and potentially being the No. 1 or No. 2 seed.

These preseason predictions will of course mean nothing once the season actually rolls around but it does give Texas fans a solid look at what things could look like during the first season of the 12-team format.

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

Zach Dimmitt is the Deputy Editor for Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He also contributes as a writer for the On SI channels of the Oregon Ducks, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Bills on SI, Philadelphia Eagles on SI and Seattle Seahawks on SI. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Dimmitt received his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. He originally started with SI’s Fan Nation network in 2021, providing extensive coverage of the NFL and NBA along with college football and basketball. In that time, Dimmitt has published thousands of stories and has reached millions of people across multiple fan bases. You can follow him on X at @ZachDimmitt7

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