Assessing the toughest opponents remaining on the Texas Longhorns' schedule via FPI
The remaining schedule for the Texas Longhorns following their open week consists of contests with Kansas State, TCU, Kansas, and Baylor. The Longhorns will hit the road to face both Kansas institutions, while the private members of the Big 12 will make their way to Austin.
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These final four games will be critical in determining who will make it to Arlington, Texas to play for the Big 12 title. TCU, Kansas State and Oklahoma State all control their own destiny, with the Wildcats and Cowboys squaring off this weekend in a matchup with major implications.
All four opponents left on Texas’ schedule are within the top 50 of ESPN’s Football Power Index. Three of the four are in the top 25, with the Longhorns themselves ranking No. 6 in the metric.
FPI has an affinity for the Longhorns. They find themselves in the company of teams like Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, Clemson, and Utah. Those teams have combined for three losses, the same number as the Longhorns.
In addition, FPI gives Texas a 23.6 percent chance of winning out, and a 26.3 percent chance of winning the conference.
Doing so will be no easy task. Using ESPN’s advanced analytical metric, Inside Texas ranks the games left on the schedule from least difficult to most difficult.
No. 50 – at Kansas – 5-3, 2-3 Big 12 – Saturday, November 19
After a sizzling 5-0 start to the season in which Lance Leipold’s squad topped Big 12 opponents West Virginia and Iowa State, the Jayhawks have lost three straight games to TCU, Oklahoma, and Baylor. No longer the punching bag for most of the league, the Jayhawks are playing sound football and giving teams all they can handle. Quarterback Jalon Daniels‘ health is the main question surrounding KU in its search for bowl eligibility.
No. 23 – at Kansas State – 5-2, 3-1 Big 12 – Saturday, November 5
The Sunflower State boasts not one, but two strong FBS teams this year for the first time in over a decade. Led by Nebraska transfer Adrian Martinez and the electric Deuce Vaughn, the Wildcats have surged into Big 12 title contention under Chris Klieman. Like their rivals, quarterback health is a question after both Martinez and backup Will Howard were dinged up against TCU.
No. 17 – Baylor – 4-3, 2-2 Big 12 – Friday, November 25
The year after Baylor’s Big 12 title run has been a little more up-and-down than Dave Aranda would have liked. Losses at BYU, at home versus Oklahoma State, and at West Virginia have the Bears needing a lot of help to get to Arlington. Running back Richard Reese has been a revelation, and Blake Shapen has played well in the Bear offense.
No. 15 – TCU – 7-0, 4-0 Big 12 – Saturday, November 12
Sonny Dykes already has things running at a high level in Year 1 in Fort Worth. Max Duggan, who began the year as Chandler Morris‘ backup, has TCU rolling and in the driver’s seat in the conference. Plus, Quentin Johnston is surging up draft boards as one of the top pass-catchers in the nation.
