Steve Sarkisian addresses how confident he is that Texas will make College Football Playoff

Texas‘ place in the College Football Playoff rankings remained consistent on Tuesday. Steve Sarkisian has his team currently at No. 3 for the third week in a row. Many wonder if the Longhorns already have their spot in the 12-team field secured, no matter the result against Texas A&M.

Sarkisian was asked for his opinion on the matter, not really knowing how to answer. He went home and watched a few games after Texas took down Kentucky, including the program’s two biggest rivals. But similar to recent comments from Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, Sarkisian is not sure of what the CFP committee is thinking.

“I don’t know,” Sarkisian said. “I’m better off asking you guys on what that stuff looks like… Everybody is talking but I don’t know what the committee thinks.”

Based on Tuesday’s rankings, Clemson is the first team out and Alabama is right behind them. Both of those two have multiple losses on the resume, with the Crimson Tide having three losses. Even if Texas were to lose the Lone Star Showdown, the committee would have to significantly drop them to not receive an at-large.

Some, such as ESPN’s Greg McElroy have opined that Texas could be in danger of missing out if they were to drop the A&M game. However, this was ahead of the chaotic, upset-filled Week 13.

“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 on Nov. 19. “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.”

Unsurprisingly, Sarkisian does not seem keen on losing to Texas A&M. A big goal in Austin this season has been winning the SEC in the program’s first year. Taking care of business in College Station would put them in Atlanta to face Georgia.

Once the goal is completed or no longer possible, attention for Sarkisian will turn to the CFP.

“What I do know — our first goal and goal at mind is try to go win an SEC Championship,” Sarkisian said. “To do that, we have to try to win Saturday and then when that dust settles, we’ll figure out the CFP and what that looks like.”