'We're a Playoff Team': Texas Longhorns Make CFP Case In Win Over Texas Tech
The Texas Longhorns might be leaving the Big 12 for the SEC, but they're going out in style without a care in the world.
Friday night was supposed to be a day where the Big 12 won. Brett Yormark made it clear back in August who he was pulling for when he told Texas Tech's Joey McGuire to "handle business" in a long-standing rivalry. Throughout the season, everyone sticking back wanted to see the Longhorns' magical run come to a close.
One team succeeded, though Oklahoma will have plenty of opportunities in the future to beat up on the No. 7 Longhorns (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) once in the SEC. Everyone else fell apart and left behind as Texas continued to stockpile wins.
Now, the Horns are returning to Arlington for a shot at the Big 12 title game. They remain in the hunt to make the College Football Playoff. And a national title is still within reach.
Friday's senior night was more than just a 57-7 win over an in-state rival. It was a message to the college football community and the CFP committee.
Texas isn't back, but this version of the Longhorns is the closest fans have seen to emulating the 2009 roster. Or the 2008 one. Or the one built in 2005.
“Yeah,” Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers said, “winning by 50 is always going to be a good statement.”
Six Longhorns found the end zone before the clock struck zero. Keilan Robinson’s 95-yard kickoff return to begin the second half iced the game. Jaydon Blue rushed for a season high and Jett Bush added more fuel to the fire with a pick-six to extend the lead.
The Longhorns blocked a punt, notched three interceptions and scored a season-high to close out the regular season. Could one ask for more two years after going 5-7? Could one still argue Steve Sarkisian isn't the right guy after winning the most games in over a decade?
The Longhorns have skated by like a cat with nine lives multiple times this fall. A win over Houston came down to a fourth-down call. A victory over Kansas State was decided by an overtime go for it instead of settling for the field goal.
Wyoming was a close call. So was TCU. Even a win over Alabama came with a back-and-forth feel, though that was expected. A double-digit win at Bryant-Denny Stadium over Nick Saban, however, wasn't.
But hell, it's about the wins, right? Not the flash, the pizzaz, the hoopla of it all? Then again, a 50-point win will always do wonders for the resume.
In case you didn't know, the Longhorns are a good football team. Maybe even a great one. They've won six straight games since dropping a close one in Dallas at the Red River Showdown. They've won eight games by double-digits.
And the buy-in internally is at an all-time high.
“I feel like we’ve worked our butts off, and I feel like we showed everyone we’re a playoff team," said potential Big 12 defensive player of the year T'Vondre Sweat.
Texas Longhorns celebrate a touchdown at Royal-Memorial Stadium
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK
Texas returns to the AT&T Stadium for the first time since 2018. The Longhorns will have a chance to win the whole thing for the first time since 2009. And if a team or two crumbles in the CFP Playoff chaos, they will punch their ticket to the final four.
And they've deserved it.
They dismantled the Red Raiders before the boss' eye and trolled him in the process. They did what Texas Tech was supposed to do: handled business. They sent the seniors off not with a win, but rather a bang.
In 2009, the Longhorns did something similar with a 40-10 thrashing against Missouri. They fought to the bitter end and earned the right to fight for a national title against Alabama.
Maybe they'll meet Alabama again in the postseason and history will repeat itself. Maybe their win in Week 2 will matter to the committee for a head-to-head decision on who's going to the playoff.
No matter what, few will argue that Texas doesn't have its flowers. The Horns fought through injuries and scares and came out on the other side stronger because of it.
They've earned this moment. They've earned their shot to win it all.
