Texas Longhorns Stand Pat in First Release of College Football Playoff Rankings

The Texas Longhorns found themselves near the top in the first release of the 2023 College Football Playoff rankings.

The Texas Longhorns are ranked at No. 7 in the first installment of the 2023 College Football Playoff rankings, which were released Tuesday. 

The Longhorns are ahead of teams like No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 10 Ole Miss.

Texas has beaten two teams that are in the first release of the rankings, as wins over Alabama (then No. 3) and No. 21 Kansas (then No. 24) are key points on the Longhorns' resume. They have a chance to add to it on Saturday when they host the Kansas State Wildcats, who are ranked No. 23 in the first release.

The Big 12 features five teams in the first CFP rankings,

Xavier Worthy :: Jay Janner/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian made a loud and proud CFP case for his team when speaking to the media on Monday.

"I'd argue we have the best win in the country right now," Sarkisian said. "The fact that we go into Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and beat a team that was 52-1 in the previous 53 games.

"I hear so much about how tough the SEC is, but I haven't seen any of those teams go into Alabama and win either," Sarkisian said. "So I feel pretty good about our team, and I think over time, this whole thing will play itself out.”

Ask Sarkisian and he'll likely tell you that it goes without saying, but the Longhorns' CFP chances will be a thing of the past if they don't defend their home field and beat K-State on Saturday.

But the adversity the team has shown gives him confidence in the potential to pull off what will have to be a hard-fought win.

“Not every team out there has had to endure some of the things that we've had to, and if they had to play with their backup (QB), how would they play?" Sarkisian said. "But I think it speaks to the type of team that we have."