Committee Wrong? Texas Deserves to Be Judged Differently in CFP Race Despite 7-2 Record

Different gains after matching scores

Texas beat Missouri 34-20 on Saturday in Columbia. UCLA posted the same score against unranked Minnesota, but the Bruins climbed four places to No. 4 in Tuesday’s CFP rankings, while Texas moved one spot to No. 6.

The teams’ records offer a straightforward explanation: UCLA is 9-0, and Texas is 7-2. But the article argues that their wins also deserve close consideration. Texas has defeated four teams ranked at the time of their matchups, while UCLA’s best victories came against two programs then sitting at 6-3.

Texas has beaten ranked teams

Texas opened its run of notable wins by defeating then-No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 in Austin. It then beat Tennessee 20-17 in Knoxville, followed by a 34-27 victory over Ole Miss and a road win against Missouri.

Three of those opponents were among the top 13 in the initial CFP rankings, according to the article. The quality of those victories has varied over time, but Texas has repeatedly won when facing highly ranked competition.

Records tell only part

UCLA was ranked behind Texas the week before, despite its unbeaten record. Its most impressive wins remain against Oregon and Wisconsin, both now 6-3. The article says those results count in the Bruins’ favor, while arguing they do not match Texas’ collection of wins over ranked opponents.

Utah offers another comparison: it is 9-0 and has beaten ranked BYU and Houston. Those results, the article says, help support the Utes’ No. 2 position. An undefeated record shows a team has won every game, but does not by itself establish the strength of its opposition.

Texas losses remain part of case

The argument does not dismiss Texas’ losses to Oklahoma and Florida. It says those results should be considered alongside wins over Ohio State, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Missouri. Texas, the article concludes, should be assessed on its full season rather than only the two games it lost.