Should the Texas Longhorns be in the College Football Playoffs? Future Longhorns think so.

On Black Friday in Austin, Texas dominated the second half and took down in-state rival Texas A&M 27–17, handing the Aggies their first loss of the season and knocking Mike Elko’s program out of SEC Championship contention. The win pushed the Longhorns to 9–3, but the bigger question now is, did it push Texas into the College Football Playoff field?

Texas’ resume is complicated but compelling. The Longhorns lost 14–7 at Ohio State in the season opener, a Buckeyes team that dominated Michigan on Saturday and finished 12–0. The toughest loss on paper came in Gainesville, where Florida beat Texas 29–21; the Gators finished 4–8 but ended Florida State’s bowl hopes with a decisive win last week. Texas also battled Georgia deep into the second half in Athens before the Bulldogs pulled away for a 35–10 victory. Georgia finished 11–1.

So, does Texas finish in the Top 12 and claim a spot in the expanded playoff? Sarkisian didn’t hold back after the A&M win.

“It would be a disservice to our sport” if Texas isn’t included, he said.

His commits agree.

Chris Stewart believes the Longhorns proved enough, especially on Friday.

“This win over Texas A&M was a big statement win for us, and we should be in the playoffs,” Stewart told Rivals. “We beat three ranked teams this season, we gave Texas A&M their only loss, and we are one of the best 12 teams.”

Four-star safety Samari Matthews, who will play for a state championship this month, echoed that confidence.

“Three of our wins are over Top 10 teams — that’s all that really needs to be said,” Matthews said. “The coaches really care about the players, and the players care about each other at Texas. That is why Texas is an elite program. The brotherhood cannot be broken.”

For in-state star Jermaine Bishop, Friday’s win carried an extra emotional charge.

“The win over A&M was insanely huge,” Bishop said. “It’s a ginormous rivalry and definitely a statement win. Apart from the rivalry standpoint, we showed the world what it looks like when the offense is webbed together.

“Texas should absolutely be in the playoffs. We’ve continuously matched up against the previous national champions to get the best look at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, it may come back to bite us, but it shouldn’t.”

California standout Richard Wesley, a one-time Oregon commit, sees a team peaking at the perfect moment.

“The way they’ve been playing lately has been amazing,” Wesley said. “I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be in the playoffs.”

This week, Texas sits at No. 14 in the College Football Playoff Rankings. But members of the Longhorns’ recruiting class still believe they belong in the field, including quarterback Dia Bell, one of the class’s vocal leaders.

“We should be in the playoffs, and if we get in, we can definitely win it all,” Bell said. “Our offense is just beginning to hit its stride. Our defense has been solid all year, and they did it again against Texas A&M. I feel like it’s all coming together at the right time.”

Texas makes its case. Now the selection committee will decide.