Where do the new ESPN College Football Playoff Rankings list the Texas Longhorns? – Longhorns Wire

The first official 12-team College Football Playoff rankings come out on Tuesday. The Texas Longhorns enter Week 1 ranked coming off a bye week, but there were still plenty of big games and big upsets to jostle teams ahead of the first opener.

ESPN has released a new prediction for the Top 12 rankings, taking Saturday’s results into account.

The biggest game of the day was Ohio State vs. Penn State. Trailing 10-0 in the first quarter, the Buckeyes outscored the Nittany Lions 20-3 the rest of the way to earn a hard-fought 20-13 victory. Both teams now have one loss in the conference.

Top-ranked Oregon handled Michigan 38-17 in the Big House. A result that feels similar to the Horns’ win in Ann Arbor. Georgiga rocked rival Florida 34-20 after scoring the final 14 points to break a tie in the fourth quarter. And Miami remained undefeated after dominating Duke, 53-31.

There were also major upheavals. Of most interest to Longhorns fans, a scoreless second half doomed Texas A&M to visit South Carolina. The Gamecocks won 44-20. The Aggies’ first conference loss and second loss overall seriously hurts A&M’s playoff chances. ESPN did not rank the Aggies in the Top 12. Clemson was soundly defeated by Louisville, 33-21.

The network does project the Texas Longhorns in the Top 12. ESPN lists the Longhorns No. 5. Texas controls its own destiny. If UT wins out in the regular season, they are all but guaranteed a spot in the 12-team playoff. But there are tough games ahead for a Longhorns team that looks vulnerable.

ESPN’s College Football Playoff predictions:

1. Oregon Ducks (9-0)
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1)
3. Georgia Bulldogs (7-1)
4. Miami Hurricanes (9-0)
5. Texas Longhorns (7-1)
6. BYU Cougars (8-0)
7. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1)
8. Tennessee Volunteers (7-1)
9. Boise State Broncos (7-1)
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1)
11. Indiana Hoosiers (9-0)
12. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2)