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Texas Longhorns football coach Steve Sarkisian made the case for his team entering the College Football Playoff after Arch Manning led an upset win over Texas A&M.
Manning was 14-of-29 with 179 passing yards and a touchdown pass. He found Ryan Wingo for a 29-yard score to put the Longhorns up by three points in the third quarter. Then, up by three points in the fourth quarter, Manning ran for a 35-yard touchdown run to give Texas a 10-point lead.
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Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) celebrates a touchdown against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
No. 16 Texas won the game, 27-17, dashing No. 3 Texas A&M’s hopes of reaching the SEC Championship.
“We are definitely a playoff team and worthy of an opportunity to play for a national championship.”
If the Longhorns made the Playoff, they would be the first three-loss team to do so. They have a bad loss to Florida on their resume, which would likely keep them from making the last 12. Their other losses were to No. 1 Ohio State and No. 4 Georgia.
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Left to right, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, offensive lineman Trevor Goosby and offensive lineman Brandon Baker celebrate after a win over Texas A&M in an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
Sarkisian said the Longhorns should be rewarded, not punished, for scheduling a non-conference matchup with the defending national champions to start the season.
“If we’re a 10-2 team right now, this is not a discussion,” Sarkisian said.
Manning echoed Sarkisian’s sentiments.
“If you let us in, we can beat anybody,” Manning said. “If you don’t think we’re one of the top 12 teams in the country, I don’t know what to tell you.”
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, center, makes a call over the line during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
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More chaos surrounding college football would probably have to happen for Texas to enter the field. They were ranked four spots behind the Miami Hurricanes in the latest College Football Playoff rankings earlier this week.
