The College Football Playoffs Selection Committee released their penultimate CFP rankings last night, and if things were to stay as they are right now, which they most likely will, Texas will be playing Michigan in the Cheezit Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL on December 31st.
Though it's technically a higher-end bowl game, every single member of Longhorn Nation had much higher hopes and aspirations for this year's team. It's safe to say that the entire nation had much higher expectations for them as well seeing as they were ranked No.1 entering the 2025 season.
Texas headed to @cheezit Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Dec. 31 at 2 pm CT against Michigan if the current @CFBPlayoff committee rankings hold.https://t.co/BvIyzg15mX pic.twitter.com/IGfSMjctx5
— Chip Brown (@ChipBrown247) December 3, 2025
Before the regular season began, the main goal was to not only make into the College Football Playoffs, but to get to and win the National Championship. Based on a few fairly big and unfortunate factors, that's pretty much out of the question right now, as the team is probably gearing up for the aforementioned bowl game.
Unless the committee comes to their senses and realizes that Texas is without a doubt a top 12 team in the nation within the next two weeks, it'll be all frowns in A-town.
As of right now, one of the only bright spots of the 2025 season is the fact that Arch Manning was able to get a full year of starting experience under his belt. Not only that, but he looked better and better as the season went on against tougher competition. The future of Texas football is still incredibly bright, and the fact that a more experienced Arch Manning will be leading the way is an enormous sigh of relief.