College Football Playoff Predictions: Texas Projected as No. 8 Seed

The Texas Longhorns are still expected to make the College Football Playoff this season, even if that means doing so without an SEC Championship.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) runs the ball during the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semifinals game against the Washington Huskies at the Caesars Superdome on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. / Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

AUSTIN -- The Texas Longhorns enter their first season in the SEC with the program-level expectation that anything short of a conference championship and College Football Playoff berth will be a disappointment.

Their path to making it to the CFP without an SEC title is of course much easier now with the inaugural 12-team playoff this season. In a recent playoff bracket prediction from On3’s JD PicKell, the Longhorns are in the mix for the National Championship but will hardly have the easiest path imaginable toward achieving the ultimate goal. 

Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) is pressured by Washington Huskies safety Mishael Powell (3) during the fourth quarter in the 2024 Sugar Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

PicKell has Texas as a No. 8 seed in the bracket with a first-round home matchup against No. 9 Notre Dame on tap. The Longhorns beat the 10th-ranked Fighting Irish during a memorable 50-47 double-overtime win in Austin to begin the 2016 season. Could history repeat itself at DKR with a trip to the CFP Semifinals on the line? 

Take a look at the bracket:

Preseason College Football Playoff Projected 12-Team Field via @jdpickell🏆

Do you agree? ⬇️https://t.co/OIg3I4GNRw pic.twitter.com/iWsQr1zYDj

— On3 (@On3sports) August 1, 2024

Here’s how PicKell seeded each CFP team:

1. Georgia (SEC Champion)

2. Oregon (Big Ten Champion)

3. Miami (ACC Champion)

4. Utah (Big 12 Champion)

5. Ole Miss

6. Ohio State

7. Florida State

8. Texas

9. Notre Dame

10. Alabama

11. Tennessee

12. Appalachian State (Sun Belt Champion)

In this scenario, the Longhorns don't exactly get a favorable draw, as they would have to face No. 1 seed Georgia in the Semifinals if they were to take down Notre Dame. While Texas and coach Steve Sarkisian would hardly back down from a matchup against the Bulldogs, the Longhorns would be doing themselves a favor if they secure a first-round bye by winning the SEC and potentially being the No. 1 or No. 2 seed.

These preseason predictions will of course mean nothing once the season actually rolls around but it does give Texas fans a solid look at what things could look like during the first season of the 12-team format.