Is Texas out of the College Football Playoff? Longhorns, Arch Manning flop against Florida

Is Texas out of the College Football Playoff? Longhorns, Arch Manning flop against Florida originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Florida beat No. 7 Texas 27-24 on Saturday in another stunning upset in SEC play. 

That's back-to-back losses for the Longhorns – and it throws into serious question whether coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterback Arch Manning will get Texas into the College Football Playoff in 2026.

It was another rough day for Manning, who had a chance to lead the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. But the second-year starter lost a fumble with 1:58 remaining, which led to a second straight loss in SEC play after losing to Oklahoma 27-24 in the Red River Rivalry in Week 7. 

Is Texas out of the College Football Playoff?

How Florida beat Texas 

Texas built a 17-3 lead in the first half on the strength of a 32-yard TD run by Raleek Brown and a 64-yard punt return TD by Ryan Niblett in the first half. 

But the Longhorns did not put Florida away. Backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. hit Lacota Dippre for a pair of TD passes, and a 28-yard field goal by Patrick Durkin put the Gators ahead 20-17 with 10:40 left in the fourth quarter. 

Manning was 10 of 14 for 77 yards at that point – and the Longhorns showed no threat in the down-field passing attack. 

The Gators tacked on another TD after Manning was stopped on a fourth-and-2 on a quarterback draw by Florida defensive tackle Brendan Bett. Manning led a TD drive in response, and the Longhorns had a chance for the go-ahead drive. 

But Manning fumbled while being sacked by Myles Graham. Kanye Clark recovered, and Jones, who finished 22 of 35 for 155 yards and two TDs, sealed the game with a nine-yard scramble on third-and-7. 

Arch Manning struggles in loss 

Manning finished 14 of 20 for 173 yards, and the protection did not hold up in the second half. It's a third straight rough outing for the Texas quarterback, and the lack of a down-field passing attack is striking with the offense. The Longhorns had just one completion over 20 yards – a 62-yard pass to Emmett Mosley V that set up the fourth-quarter TD. 

Manning is 67.1% in the last three SEC games, but he averages 211.3 passing yards with three TDs and three interceptions in those games. The Longhorns are 9 of 40 on third down (22.5%) in those last three games.

Manning is a projected first-round pick — but this loss might lead to some debate whether the quarterback should come back to college for the 2027 season.

Texas' remaining schedule 

The Longhorns still have a tough schedule remaining with four opponents that are ranked in the conference, starting with No. 9 Ole Miss next Saturday. The path to a 10-win season is open, but there is no margin for error.  

What works in Texas' favor? The Longhorns can still bank on a 24-23 victory against Ohio State on Sept. 12, but another loss would have Sarkisian falling back on the same 9-3 argument that the Longhorns tried to use last year to get into the College Football Playoff. It did not work last year and might not work this year either.

Texas 2026 remaining schedule