ESPN gives Texas football top 5 best odds to make College Football Playoff

How real is the opportunity for Texas football to make the College Football Playoff this fall? First, they have to win the Big 12.

The updated version of ESPN’s College Football Playoff Predictor is in, and the Texas football program is sitting in a good spot heading into their Big 12 home opener this coming weekend. Texas is currently the only team in the Big 12 that is both undefeated and ranks inside the top 10 of both major polls. And the only other Big 12 team even ranked inside the top 25 of both major polls and that is still undefeated is the No. 17 Oklahoma State Cowboys.

But all of this isn’t necessarily good news for the Longhorns and especially for the Big 12. The Oklahoma Sooners headed in Week 4 of the 2020 college football season with the No. 3 ranking in the AP Poll. And their upset loss for the second year in a row at the hands of the Kansas State Wildcats, this time at home in Norman, stung in a big way.

Oklahoma was bounced even from the top 15 in the AP Poll. They lost to a Kansas State team that was upset by the Arkansas State Red Wolves, out of the Sun Belt, in their season opener more than two weeks ago.

However, head coach Tom Herman and his Longhorns just have to keep their eye on the prize and don’t get caught overlooking any opponent. They have a key matchup on tap in their Big 12 home opener this weekend. If Texas can avoid the upset this weekend at home against stingy head coach Gary Patterson and the TCU Horned Frogs, then they could continue to keep their spot atop the Big 12 standings and as the conference’s leader to represent in the College Football Playoff.

And ESPN’s updated Playoff Predictor heading into Week 5 certainly showcases the real possibility of the Longhorns contending to be in the mix this year. Texas has the best chances of any Big 12 team to make the Playoff from this week’s predictor metrics. ESPN gives Texas a 28 percent chance to make the Playoff and then a four percent chance to win the National Championship outright.

The only other Big 12 that made the top 15 was Oklahoma State, who is given just a one percent chance to make the Playoff and less than that to win the title. Oklahoma wasn’t even in the top 15.

To round out the top four ahead of the Longhorns (in order from top-to-bottom) were the Ohio State Buckeyes, Alabama Crimson Tide, Clemson Tigers, and Wisconsin Badgers. The UCF Knights came in right behind Texas on the list, with a 27 percent chance to make the Playoff.

Texas rings in at No. 9 in both major polls heading into their Oct. 3 matchup against TCU. Kick off is set for 11 a.m. CT at home at DKR. They currently hold a record of 2-0 (1-0 Big 12) after their crazy comeback win in overtime over the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Sep. 26.