Rece Davis predicts Texas secured their CFP spot despite current ranking

As part of ESPN’s College GameDay Podcast, college football analysts Rece Davis and Pete Thamel broke down the road to the playoff for Texas.

Davis came right and stated that his bold take from the last week is that Texas is positioned better than any other team to ultimately make the College Football Playoff field.

The biggest winner from the first weekend in November is not the one you think. The biggest winner of the first weekend didn’t necessarily come from the biggest game, it came from one of the more entertaining games, and that winner is Texas,” said Davis, explaining the factors contributing to Texas’ great shot at a bid.

“Texas is going to the College Football Playoff and I think they all but secured a spot. I know there’s there’s a very specific scenario that might keep them out, but I think they have basically secured a spot, because the last team that could beat them did not.”

Rece Davis just doesn’t see another potential foe in the Big 12 who can knock off the Longhorns.

“They survived a scare and everything has fallen in place now, because the remainder of their schedule, they’re incapable of beating them in my judgment, barring a a horrific performance from Texas. And then in the championship game, the teams that will likely be there — Oklahoma State most likely — I don’t think is suited to beat them, because you’re not going to run on them. So I think Texas had a gargantuan weekend and is really close, despite the one loss, to have having secured a spot in the CFP.”

After that shower of praise and promise towards Texas, Pete Thamel just had to push back a little bit.

“So do you expect an un-ironic declaration of Texas being back to go unchecked by me?” he joked. “I mean, do you really think I could just give you the runway on that and let it go, Rece? Because there’s no way I can just hand Texas anything after 15 years of them essentially falling or, you know, stepping on a rake. So I give Texas credit for holding on.”

Thamel says the ‘Horns were just lucky to escape last week’s game alive and needs to see Texas actually win these games before assuming they’ll easily win out and make the playoff.

“I mostly blame the center on K-State on that extra point try who snapped it when nobody was waiting. I mean, talk about one that will haunt Chris Klieman. He’ll be in a rocking chair somewhere enjoying a beverage and he’ll say ‘if we just hit that extra point in Austin, it would all be different.’

“Now, that said, Texas jolted out to lead, they had their backup quarterback, they showed enough mettle to do what they needed to do. So I certainly respect where the genesis of that enthusiasm for Texas comes from. But as the noted cynic of the show, I just am not going to declare anything until I see them pop up in the graphic that Sunday. I am not going to think Texas is safe.”

Thamel needs to see to believe, while Rece Davis is ready to stamp is foot down with the bold declaration that Texas will dispose of whichever conference opponents cross paths with them between now and the selection reveal.

“Here’s my point on it, Pete, because I’ve been wary for quite some time, because generally speaking, I wouldn’t say my enthusiasm for Texas is great. I just feel like they navigated the final rake. And while I love love the way Oklahoma State is playing, I think that’s a ‘styles make fights’ thing and I don’t think that’s a good style for Oklahoma State against Texas. I may be proven wrong, but I kind of don’t think so.”