Texas Reenters Top 10 as College Football Playoff Picture Narrows

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Longhorns returned to the Top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll on Sunday. This marks a significant development as the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) boasts five ranked teams for the first time this season, while also signaling representation from two Group of Five conferences.

The Longhorns, once ranked No. 1 in preseason, now find themselves at No. 10 ahead of a crucial match against fifth-ranked Georgia this week. After sustaining a loss earlier in the season, Texas dropped out of the Top 25 for a week. However, a string of four consecutive victories has propelled them back to No. 10, an increase from last week’s No. 13 ranking.

Brett Venables, head coach of Texas, commented on his team’s resilience, stating, “We faced adversity and learned to bounce back, which is crucial as we prepare for an important matchup against Georgia.” Texas did not play over the weekend, allowing them to focus on this upcoming challenge.

BYU, previously unbeaten, has been knocked down four spots to No. 12 after their loss to a conference rival and has concluded its two-week stay in the top 10. Meanwhile, the top three spots did not see any changes: Alabama remains firmly at No. 1, holding 55 first-place votes, while Indiana holds onto No. 2.

The ACC is seeing a tightly contested race with five teams now in the mix, including Virginia and Pittsburgh, both looking to secure their standings with one loss in conference play. This is the first time since November 2024 that the ACC has five teams ranked.

Pittsburgh, currently No. 24, is making its AP poll debut since November of last year, demonstrating impressive performance this season. The race for the Group of Five’s automatic bid in the College Football Playoff has also intensified, especially after a surprising loss on Friday that sent shockwaves through the rankings.

The rankings will continue to shake out, with the College Football Playoff committee’s next set of rankings expected to be released on Tuesday. As the playoff picture becomes clearer, fans can expect thrilling matchups in the upcoming weeks.