Skip to main content
Join Now
Get a profile. Be recruited.

Paul Finebaum makes case for Texas, Vanderbilt in College Football Playoff after Week 11 chaos

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby: Grant Grubbs6 hours agogrant_grubbs_
paul-finebaum-is-the-reason-sec-nation-isnt-coming-to-kentucky-vs-ole-miss
Paul Finebaum - © Ken Ruinard / staff, The Greenville News via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Paul Finebaum isn’t ruling out the idea of Texas or Vanderbilt squeaking into the College Football Playoff. During an appearance on The Matt Barrie Show, the ESPN analyst explained how either team could reach the CFP.

“Let’s say Texas loses at Georgia. Then, they find the final game of the season is at home against what will likely be an undefeated Texas A&M team. So, should they get that win and finish 9-3, I think you’re going to have to have a serious argument that they have a spot in there,” Finebaum said. “… You’ll have to factor in that Ohio State game, and that could, that could give them a kick.

“And how about Vanderbilt? Are they going to leave Vanderbilt out at 10-2? Now, they haven’t gotten to 10-2 yet because their final game of the year will be at Tennessee. And that would be a significant victory, even though it would likely be over a 9-3 Tennessee team, it would count for something… In that circumstance, you could really have some wild debates about that.”

While Texas has underperformed relative to fans’ preseason expectations for the Longhorns, they’re 7-2 and 4-1 in conference play. Texas enjoyed a bye this weekend after defeating Vanderbilt 34-31 in Week 10.

While the Longhorns are likely to lose at least one of their final three games of the season (Georgia, Arkansas and Texas A&M), they will have the head-to-head matchup over Vanderbilt. Of course, if Vanderbilt concludes the regular season with just two losses, Texas’ win over the Commodores may not matter.

After all, assuming Tennessee remains ranked into Week 14 and the Commodores win, Vanderbilt would be heading into the postseason with four Top 25 victories. This scenario could create a difficult situation for the CFP selection committee.

Then again, it’s always possible for Texas and Vanderbilt to both make the CFP, as well. However, that would likely require a team like Oklahoma or Notre Dame to suffer an unexpected upset.

In college football, anything is possible. This past weekend alone, Big 12 favorite BYU fell to Texas Tech, while ACC contender Virginia suffered a stunning upset loss against Wake Forest.

Texas and Vanderbilt have three weeks remaining in the regular season to make their case to the CFP selection committee. Vanderbilt has a bye in Week 12, but Texas will face off against Georgia in a pivotal showdown on Saturday.