Where Texas football ranks in the post-Week 11 ESPN FPI

In Week 11, No. 18 ranked Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian had a chance to do something that would get this team much closer to earning a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game. Instead, Texas fell flat in a high-stakes Big 12 contest on Nov. 12 at the hands of new head coach Sonny Dykes and the undefeated No. 4 ranked TCU Horned Frogs.

Sark and the Longhorns fell short to TCU on the night of Nov. 12 by the final score of 17-10. Texas’ offense was at the lowest point we’ve seen it all season long this weekend. The defense actually outscored the offense in this game, thanks to the scoop and score in the fourth quarter from junior defensive back Jahdae Barron.

The loss to TCU knocked the Longhorns out of the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll coming out of Week 11. Meanwhile, TCU held steady at No. 4 in the two major polls this week. And there is a lot more national recognition of the Horned Frogs as a legit College Football Playoff contender.

So, as we do every week following a Texas game, where do the Longhorns rank in the updated ESPN Football Power Index after the loss to TCU on Nov. 12?

Steve Sarkisian and Texas football slide down one spot in post-Week 11 ESPN FPI

The post-Week 11 ESPN Football Power Index moved Texas down just one spot following the loss to TCU on Nov. 12. That slots the Longhorns at No. 7 in the updated ESPN FPI coming out of Week 11. The Utah Utes were the team that moved up to fill the Longhorns’ spot at No. 6 in the FPI this weekend.

And despite beating Texas in Austin by seven points, TCU still managed to slide down two spots in the updated FPI to No. 14. Texas remains the highest-ranked team in the FPI post-Week 11.

That is clearly flawed to some degree given the fact that the Horned Frogs have now defeated every ranked team its faced in Big 12 play so far this season.

Meanwhile, Sark and the Longhorns don’t really have a shot to get to the Big 12 Championship Game any longer. Texas is now looking to reel in an eight or nine-win season and end the 2022 campaign with momentum with a bowl victory.

The loss to TCU moves Texas to a mark of 6-4 (4-3 Big 12) on the season. Next up for Sark and the Longhorns is the final road game of the regular season, which comes in Lawrence on Nov. 19 against the Kansas Jayhawks and head coach Lance Leipold.