Greg McElroy warns Texas on potential Texas A&M loss affecting College Football Playoff hopes

For the second straight week, Texas was placed at No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Steve Sarkisian‘s bunch has a 9-1 record with their lone loss being to Georgia. But looking in the win column, there are none against teams currently in the committee’s top 25.

An opportunity to get one remains on the schedule, though. Texas travels to College Station for a massive showdown against Texas A&M to renew a bitter in-state rivalry. A win likely secures a spot in the SEC Championship game and potentially the CFP.

However, ESPN’s Greg McElroy argues a loss could completely drop Texas out of the 12-team field. Beating Kentucky on Saturday is a must but if McElroy believes a 10-2 record with a Texas A&M loss may keep the Longhorns on the outside looking in.

“I think Texas, with their strength of schedule, if they lose to A&M — they can beat Kentucky — but if they lose to A&M, I think they’re going to fall behind Tennessee,” McElroy said. “Who, right now, is the first team out according to the committee. So, Texas-Texas A&M could not just be a playoff game to get to the SEC Championship game, it could be a playoff game for Texas to keep their playoff teams alive in the 12-team playoff.”

ESPN currently ranks Texas’ strength of schedule in the low 30s. A bump will take place when the regular season is over and Texas A&M is included. Lack of quality wins will still be the biggest gripe against the Horns if they cannot win in the regular season finale.

Texas A&M, which already has two losses, finds itself in a similar situation. Finishing the year with two wins places them at 10-2 and in the SEC Championship game. A loss would make it No. 3 on the year and well below the playoff cutline. They need a win just as much as their in-state foes to keep the national championship dream alive.

Before getting there, a matchup against Auburn does take place on the Plains.

Tennessee, on the other hand, has their premier win of the year against Alabama. Their SOS per ESPN currently sits at No. 18 with UTEP and Vanderbilt remaining. Looking at those two resumes, McElroy would give the edge to the Vols.

If the Longhorns and Aggies both had losing records, the stakes would still be incredibly high. Adding SEC and College Football Playoff implications only adds to what will be an intense environment at Kyle Field.

And if McElroy theory’s has a chance of becoming true, the only people cheering for Texas A&M more than themselves will be people in Knoxville.