Greg McElroy explains why Texas should remain optimistic about CFP chances

Texas is back? Maybe, maybe not. The jury is still out on that statement at the moment. However, coming off the loss to Oklahoma and now sitting at 5-1, what Greg McElroy does think that Texas is is fine.

McElroy shared his optimism on the Longhorn’s chances to remain in contention this fall during ‘Always College Football’ this week. His first reason was their talent level compared with the fact that they very well could have won the Red River Rivalry had they not cost themselves in very key situations.

“You still have the most talented team in the Big 12. You lost by four, you gave up a remarkable, two-minute drive that will live on forever. Those things happen, man, and it is what it is,” said McElroy. “Here’s the things that led to you losing the game: you have a goal-line stand with first & goal at the one, you have three turnovers with a couple picks and a bad fumble, you had three redzone penetrations that resulted in three points. Okay?”

McElroy’s second, larger point was a bit more honest, though. Over their final six games, he doesn’t see a team that should be within striking distance of Texas. Add in the context of where they’ll play some of them and he can’t imagine a scenario where the Longhorns aren’t one of the two teams in the conference’s title game.

“You look at your schedule? Like, look at your schedule and tell me, just tell me right now, what games really scare you to death? Because there’s not really a whole lot on there,” McElroy said. “At Houston? I’m not worried about it. I’m just going to be honest – I’m not worried about it. BYU on October 28th? I’m just going to tell you that’s a tough one but they’re at your place.”

“Kansas State on November 4th? Kansas State has not been good on the road this year. Now, last year, the last eight games or whatever? You thought, ‘Oh man, this team can travel on the road, play well on the road. Like, that’s not a team you want to face in your home environment because they’re tough, defense travels, run game travels’. Well, K-State is 0-2 on the road this year and didn’t look good against Oklahoma State last week whatsoever,” noted McElroy. “You’re at TCU on November 11th? TCU is 3-3. At Iowa State on November 18th? That games looking a little bit trickier today but, let’s be real, Oklahoma beat them by 30. And then Texas Tech is at your place on November 24th.”

A loss, especially to Oklahoma, has no one on The 40 Acres very pleased in their bye. Still, in McElroy’s opinion, there’s still more than enough reason for hope. If they can avoid a slip-up over the second half of their season, he knows they’ll get their second shot at the Sooners in the postseason and can make up for what happened in the Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium.

“You look at the schedule, man? It would be an absolute stunner – stunner – if Texas is not sitting in the Big 12 Championship at 11-1,” McElroy stated. “They’d have to get upset at home by a team that is significantly less talented than them. Or they’d have to blow it on the road against a team that’s even less talented than the one that might be able to beat them at home.”

“Texas is going to be fine,” said McElroy. “If they get the chance to play against Oklahoma again? I think they’ll have a real chance to knock off the Sooners if they play a cleaner brand of football.”