Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns have lost ground in the national championship race after a costly defeat to Oklahoma, while Ohio State remains the favorite to win the College Football Playoff following Week 6. Texas entered the Red River Rivalry with championship aspirations but left with a 27-24 loss that exposed familiar concerns about Manning's decision-making under pressure. The quarterback threw two interceptions, including a pick-six and a late turnover that helped set up Oklahoma's game-winning field goal.
The result has affected the Longhorns' standing among the nation's leading contenders. According to FanDuel's latest championship odds,Texas is now listed at +1000, behind Ohio State, Notre Dame, Georgia, Miami and Alabama. The Longhorns remain in the broader title conversation, but their latest performance has made the path to a championship more difficult.
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Meanwhile, Ohio State continues to set the pace, Georgia strengthened its position with a statement win over Alabama, and Notre Dame gained momentum after a dominant victory over Stanford.
Arch Manning's mistakes prove costly against Oklahoma
Texas had an opportunity to strengthen its championship credentials in one of college football's biggest annual rivalries. Instead, Manning's two interceptions helped turn a winnable game into a damaging defeat. The first interception was returned for a touchdown, giving Oklahoma crucial points and shifting momentum. The second came on Texas' final drive, ending the Longhorns' attempt to move into position for a potential winning field goal.
Manning still threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns, but the turnovers proved decisive in the 27-24 loss. According to the New York Post, the performance also dealt a significant blow to his Heisman Trophy prospects. For Texas, the issue extends beyond one disappointing afternoon.
Championship teams must be able to withstand pressure in high-stakes games, and Manning's mistakes gave Oklahoma opportunities it ultimately converted. The Longhorns should not be written off after a single defeat, particularly in the 12-team playoff era. However, their margin for error has narrowed, and Manning will need to demonstrate greater consistency as the schedule progresses.
Ohio State remains the team to beat
Ohio State continues to occupy the top spot in FanDuel's championship odds at +360, following a comfortable victory over Maryland that moved the Buckeyes to 5-1. The biggest reason for their standing is wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who has emerged as one of the most dangerous offensive players in the country. Smith has accumulated 916 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, both among the best marks in the FBS, according to the supplied season statistics.
His ability to create explosive plays gives Ohio State a formidable offensive weapon, and opposing defenses have yet to find a reliable way to contain him. The Buckeyes have already demonstrated that they can compete with elite opposition, including a victory over Texas earlier in the season. With Smith continuing to produce at an exceptional level, Ohio State has a compelling case as the championship favorite.
Notre Dame and Georgia strengthen their cases
Notre Dame sits second in the championship odds at +460 after improving to 6-0 with a 51-point victory over Stanford. The Fighting Irish have been consistent throughout the season, although their schedule has yet to provide a definitive test against another elite contender. Their upcoming matchup against BYU should offer a clearer indication of whether they can sustain their unbeaten start against stronger opposition.
Georgia, meanwhile, improved its position to +490 after defeating Alabama 20-17 on the road. The Bulldogs secured their first victory at Alabama since 2007, a significant result in a matchup between two programs with championship ambitions.
Georgia's defense and ability to win a close game strengthened its credentials, while the defeat did little to eliminate Alabama from the conversation. Alabama is still listed at +850, ahead of Texas. Under the expanded 12-team playoff format, one loss does not necessarily end a team's championship hopes, and the Crimson Tide remain positioned to pursue an at-large berth even if they fall short of the SEC Championship Game.
Miami, which was idle in Week 6, also remains firmly in contention at +700. The Hurricanes have an explosive offense, although their ability to maintain that production against stronger defenses will be important as the season advances.
Ole Miss returns to the championship conversation
Another significant shift followed LSU's overtime loss to Kentucky, its second SEC defeat of the season. The result helped Ole Miss reenter the top eight contenders, with FanDuel listing the Rebels at +2200. Their improved position reflects the changing landscape of the SEC, where losses among highly regarded programs can quickly reshape the championship picture.
LSU, meanwhile, has less room for error as it attempts to recover from another conference setback. The latest odds illustrate how quickly the national title race can change. A single loss does not necessarily eliminate a contender, but repeated mistakes or defeats within a demanding conference can make the road to the playoff considerably more difficult.
Despite falling outside the top five in the championship odds, Texas has not lost all hope of competing for a national title. The expanded playoff gives teams more opportunities to recover from setbacks, and Manning's three touchdown passes against Oklahoma showed that the offense remains capable of producing points.
But the Longhorns need more than offensive potential. They must reduce costly turnovers, execute in decisive moments and prove they can beat top-level opponents when the pressure is highest. Manning remains central to those ambitions. His performance against Oklahoma was damaging, but his response in the coming weeks will be just as important in determining whether Texas can return to the championship conversation.