The Texas Longhorns have solidified their spot at No. 1 in ESPN’s Week 10 College Football Power Index (FPI). The Horns are looking to stay in favorable position for a College Football Playoff berth and a shot at the SEC Championship. With a projected record of 10.7-1.8 and a notable 24.5% chance of clinching the National Championship, Texas is emerging as a favorable contender on the national stage.
This week, Texas had to dig deep to hold off a feisty Vanderbilt squad in a close 27-24 victory. The Longhorns built a 21-10 halftime lead, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers, who fired three touchdown passes. Yet the Commodores fought back in the second half, closing the gap and adding pressure to a Texas team with championship aspirations.
Late in the fourth quarter, Texas extended its lead to 27-17, appearing to secure the win. But Vanderbilt refused to back down, scoring a late touchdown with just 46 seconds remaining to make it a one-score game. In the final moments, the Longhorns’ defense held firm, preserving the win and keeping Texas away from two upsets back to back.
Ohio State and Alabama are following closely in the FPI rankings, the playoff race is intensifying. One tantalizing scenario circulating on social media is the potential for a high-stakes Texas vs. Texas A&M showdown, with SEC Championship implications on the line.
One thing is for certain, there is still a lot of football left, but only time will tell the outcomes. I’m a fan of analytics just as the next guy, but they have proven to be wrong before. As of now, Texas is favored to win-out all of their games per ESPN Analytics. This would place Texas at 10-1. While the Aggies are slated to head into the Showdown as 10-1 as well, again per ESPN Analytics. The Longhorns should (based on statistics from ESPN) win at Kyle Field. As the saying goes, It Just Means More.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Longhorns move to No. 1 in Week 10 ESPN College Football Power Index
