Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Steve Sarkisian Sends Clear Message To College Football Playoff Committee After Texas-Texas A&M Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hunter Hodies | Last updated Nov 29, 2025 1:07 AM ET

Texas secured a massive win over one of its biggest rivals, Texas A&M, on Friday night.

Texas A&M took a 10-3 lead into halftime before Texas outscored Texas A&M 24-7 in the second half to win 27-17.

Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning threw for 179 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a rushing touchdown. The win got the Longhorns to 9-3 overall and knocked the Aggies out of the SEC Championship race.

The Georgia Bulldogs will take on either the Alabama Crimson Tide or the Ole Miss Rebels in the SEC Championship Game next weekend.

After the Longhorns' victory, head coach Steve Sarkisian spoke emphatically about why his team should be in the College Football Playoff when the final bracket comes out.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian speaks with quarterback Arch Manning (16).© Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

"If you really look at the body of work and you look at the Southeastern Conference and what we have to go through every week, you look at the non-conference schedule we play, to go to Ohio State in week one and lose by seven when we outgained them by nearly 200 yards, we got a really good football team," Sarkisian told ESPN's Molly McGrath.

"It would be a disservice to our sport if this team is not a playoff team when we went and scheduled that non-conference game. Because if we're a 10-2 team, it's not a question. But we were willing to go play that game, so is that what college football is about? Don't play anybody and just have a good record? Or play the best and put the best teams in the playoff, and we're one of the best teams."

Sarkisian and Co. will have to wait a little bit to see if the CFP Committee puts the Longhorns in the 12-team playoff.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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