FBS Power Poll: Texas, Texas A&M drop as UTSA, North Texas surge

It was a bloody Saturday in the Lone Star State with the eight teams in action combining for only three wins. The most impressive one was by Houston, which throttled Kansas State on the road behind four touchdown passes to Conner Weigman. UTSA and North Texas also made conference statements in wins.

But it was the losses that stood out, namely the Longhorns’ collapse in the Red River Rivalry. Texas A&M was also humiliated again, this time on the road against Missouri. Five teams – Texas Tech, TCU, SMU, Baylor, and Texas State – were idle.

Here is the updated FBS Power Poll.

1. Texas Tech (5-0)

This week: Idle
Next week: vs. Arizona State
Last week rank: 2

The Red Raiders move into the top spot despite not playing in Week 6 because they’re the last remaining undefeated team in Texas. Joey McGuire’s bunch hasn’t dominated opponents like they did a year ago, but they’re still one of the favorites to win the Big 12 and the win over Houston looks better and better.

2. Texas (4-1)

This week: lost to Oklahoma, 27-24
Next week: vs. Florida
Last week rank: 1

The Sooners scored 14 non-offensive points in the upset win over No. 1-ranked Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Arch Manning was inconsistent, and as was the run game, and the special teams allowed another touchdown, this time on a punt block. The wins over Ohio State and Tennessee are great, but the remaining schedule doesn’t make a CFP trip a certainty if the Horns keep getting in their own way.

3. Houston (5-1)

This week: beat Kansas State, 35-16
Next week: vs. Oklahoma State
Last week rank: 3

Conner Weigman threw four touchdown passes to tight end Patrick Overmyer in one of the more impressive performances of Houston’s Big 12 existence. The rushing attack averaged 5.4 yards a carry on 43 attempts. The upcoming home clash against Oklahoma State feels like a Big 12 Championship game eliminator.

4. Baylor (4-1)

This week: Idle
Next week: vs. TCU
Last week rank: 4

The Bears enter the Revivalry with more momentum than the rival Horned Frogs as Dave Aranda’s seat continues to cool thanks to a hot start. D.J. Lagway was excellent in the Week 5 win over Arizona State and Joe Klanderman’s defense is one of the best units in the Big 12. Are Baylor Big 12 contenders?

5. SMU (4-1)

This week: Idle
Next week: vs. Virginia
Last week rank: 5

QB Kevin Jennings is second in the FBS and first in the Power Four in passing yards per game with 317.6. The five interceptions are a concern, however. The open week hopefully allowed the Mustangs to work on cutting down the errors ahead of the home game against Virginia. SMU should be favored in all its remaining conference games.

6. UTSA (5-1)

This week: beat South Florida, 31-24
Next week: vs. Navy
Last week rank: 7

The Thursday night win over USF in the Alamodome improved Jeff Traylor’s home record to 26-1 against conference opponents since taking over the Roadrunners in 2020. UTSA’s three-headed running back room is one of the best in the G6 ranks and the team is now 3-0 in one possession games already this season.

7. North Texas (4-2)

This week: beat Charlotte, 50-10
Next week: Idle
Last week rank: 10

North Texas is on a three-game winning streak with its only losses coming on the road to defending national champion Indiana and a Texas State team that had its back against the wall entering Week 3. QB Tayven Jackson threw for five touchdowns against Charlotte and Jaheim White topped 100 yards. The Mean Green are squarely in the American Conference mix.

8. Texas A&M (3-3)

This week: lost to Missouri, 27-6
Next week: vs. The Citadel
Last week rank: 6

The Aggies are now 1-3 in SEC play after another road loss without scoring a touchdown. QB Marcel Reed looks lost and head coach Mike Elko took a shot at TexAgs following the game. The good news is a matchup with The Citadel will push the Aggies to four wins. The bad news is that it is hard to imagine two more wins against the remaining schedule.

9. TCU (2-3)

This week: Idle
Next week: at Baylor
Last week rank: 8

Sonny Dykes and his Horned Frogs are in a can’t-lose situation heading to Waco to face the surging Baylor Bears. TCU is 0-3 against Power Four teams this season and the offense hasn’t scored more than 13 points in any of those three games. Both TCU and Baylor are coming off idle weeks.

10. Texas State (2-3)

This week: Idle
Next week: vs. Colorado State
Last week rank: 9

It feels wrong to rank a Bobcats team that beat North Texas three weeks ago this far below the Mean Green but it is hard to ignore what’s happen since, namely the collapse against San Diego State back in Week 5. October has been a troubling month for G.J. Kinne in San Marcos. A Thursday night home game against a Colorado State team on a three-game losing streak offers an opportunity to turn it around.

11. Rice (1-5)

This week: lost to East Carolina, 28-12
Next week: vs. Tulsa
Last week rank: 12

The Owls have been within one possession during the fourth quarter in each of the last four losses. The mounting injuries have hurt the depth and that helps explain the fourth quarter struggles for Rice this season. They’re a better team than the record suggests.

12. Sam Houston (1-4)

This week: lost to Liberty, 35-3
Next week: vs. Western Kentucky
Last week rank: 11

The Bearkats were embarrassed by Liberty on Thursday night in the Conference USA opener. Phil Longo’s squad had impressed even in losses to start the year until the Flames put them to the torch. A struggling Western Kentucky team comes to town on Wednesday and that might be just what the doctor ordered in Huntsville.

13. UTEP (1-5)

This week: lost to Nevada, 30-13
Next week: vs. San Diego State
Last week rank: 13

The Miners are arguably the worst team in the FBS this season and the 17-point loss to an average Nevada team was more proof that the Scotty Walden era simply isn’t working. UTEP is now 1-15 against the FBS since the start of 2025 and three of the program’s four conference wins since Walden arrived happened back in 2024.