Arch Manning and Texas opened the season against the defending national champions Ohio State. In a game where Manning struggled and fell to to the Buckeyes as looked every bit as the team to beat. However, ESPN’s updated Football Power Index still isn’t moving Texas off the top spot.
Texas may have opened the season with a loss, but the computers still see the Longhorns as the nation’s top dog still. Despite a 14-7 defeat to Ohio State, Texas remains No. 1 in the top 25 rankings.
After an outing like that their spot in the rankings will draw a lot of controversy. On paper, the Longhorns didn’t look like the country’s best team Saturday afternoon.
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Arch Manning and the offense sputtered early, failing to find a rhythm throughout the game. Even when they did, they weren’t able to put enough points on the board to reward the defense that was keeping them in the game.
Ohio State walked away with the win because they were sharper when it mattered most. As the Buckeyes moved up one spot to third.
But the FPI, which weighs efficiency, roster strength, and projections across the season, isn’t ready to drop Texas off the pedestal after one loss.
For Texas, going forward they have to turn Manning’s potential into production.
He has the arm talent and pedigree to carry the offense, but he needs to show and deliver on the hype around him if Texas wants to compete this season. Adding that element to match what the defense provided on Saturday will have them in good shape.
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If that balance comes together, it’s not hard to imagine Texas flipping the narrative and meeting Ohio State again later on in the season.
Week 1 didn’t go as planned. The scoreboard says Texas has work to do. The FPI says they’re still the best in the country. Many of the fans that watched that game would have a different opinion on Texas but that’s what makes the entire ranking bold and fascinating to dissect.
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