Paul Finebaum names unexpected SEC team that belongs in the College Football Playoff

Texas stunned No. 3 Texas A&M with a 27–17 victory, concluding their regular season with a 9-3 record and reigniting discussions around their College Football Playoff (CFP) eligibility. Key performances included Arch Manning's impactful second-half and Quintrevion Wisner's 155-yard game. Head coach Steve Sarkisian advocated for Texas's playoff inclusion, emphasizing the strength of their schedule over an unblemished record.

Paul Finebaum supported this view, citing Texas's challenging matchups against Ohio State and others, contrasting them with weaker opponents faced by other teams. Texas's losses this season were to top-ranked Ohio State and Georgia, but also to a struggling Florida team, which could be seen as a "bad loss" by the CFP committee. Additional close wins in overtime against Kentucky and Mississippi State highlight potential inconsistencies.

The CFP selection committee evaluates head-to-head results, strength of schedule, and other metrics, which could favor Texas despite their three losses.