FBS Power Poll: Texas, Texas Tech Remain at the Top Following Week 9

Not much changed in the FBS Power Poll following Week 9. Four of the five Power Four teams that were in action won with SMU the outlier, falling on the road to Syracuse and effectively ending any hope for an ACC Championship game berth. North Texas was the only G6 team to win this week.

Four of the 13 FBS teams in Texas – Texas A&M, UTSA, Rice, and Houston – were idle. Every team in Texas has now played eight games as we’re two-thirds of the way through the regular season.

1. Texas (6-2)

This week: beat Mississippi State, 31-3
Next week: at Missouri
Last week rank: #1

Arch Manning threw for three touchdowns and the defense kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone in a breezy win at DKR. Manning has completed 71 percent of his passes and scored 10 total touchdowns in three starts against Mississippi State. The next two weeks – trips to Missouri and LSU – will define the Longhorns season.

2. Texas Tech (7-1)

This week: beat Arizona, 34-26
Next week: vs. West Virginia
Last week rank: #2

Tommy Castellanos started at quarterback for the Red Raiders for the second time this season. But this time, he stayed in the game for more than one play. His legs provided a much-needed spark and Texas Tech bullied Arizona in the trenches on both sides ot the ball in a gut check win that keeps them alive in the Big 12.

3. Houston (6-2)

This week: Idle
Next week: vs. Cincinnati
Last week rank: #4

Houston’s only two losses – Texas Tech and BYU – are on the road to teams currently ranked in the top 15. They’ll probably be favored in each of the last four games, starting with a home tilt against Cincinnati. A 10-win season and an outside chance at the Big 12 Championship game is still a carrot to chase for Willie Fritz’s program.

4. SMU (6-2)

This week: lost to Syracuse, 30-27
Next week: vs. Virginia Tech
Last week rank: #3

The Mustangs have now lost three of their last four conference road games, including the last two after falling to Syracuse on the road. SMU was -2 in the turnover battle and committed nine penalties. They trailed at halftime, continuing a theme of slow starts against inferior competition.

5. UTSA (7-1)

This week: Idle
Next week: at FAU
Last week rank: #5

Jeff Traylor’s squad enjoyed an open date after eight straight games to start the season. They’re still a dark horse contender for the G6 playoff spot if Boise State and New Mexico slip up down the stretch. The Roadrunners are one of two 4-0 teams in conference play and they’re on a collision course with the other – rival North Texas – if both win in Week 10.

6. North Texas (6-2)

This week: beat FAU, 48-41
Next week: vs. Rice
Last week rank: #6

North Texas gained 644 yards in the Thursday night win against FAU. The two teams combined for 60 first downs and 103 pass attempts. The Mean Green are undefeated in conference play with a trip UTSA on the horizon. But first is a pesky Rice squad that is better than its record and a tricky matchup because of the option offense.

7. Baylor (5-3)

This week: beat UCF, 41-9
Next week: vs. Iowa State
Last week rank: #8

The Bears played their best game of the season in the lopsided road win over a UCF team coming off the BYU upset. It was the team’s first game since firing head coach Dave Aranda. D.J. Lagway threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns. The Baylor defense recorded 12 tackles for loss, including seven sacks.

8. TCU (4-4)

This week: beat Kansas, 22-16
Next week: at Arizona
Last week rank: #8

It feels weird to rank TCU below Baylor only a few weeks after the Horned Frogs beat their rival on the road, but this is mostly a vibe ranking and the vibes in Fort Worth were low even in victory. The fan base looks checked out based on attendance and the audible boos told the story. It feels like a matter of when, not if, for Sonny Dykes at TCU.

9. Texas A&M (4-4)

This week: Idle
Next week: at South Carolina
Last week rank: #9

Few teams in the country needed a week to regroup more than Mike Elko’s Aggies. And while some, if not most, of their problems require more than one open date in the middle of the season to fix, a deep breath can only help ahead of the home stretch. That starts with a trip to South Carolina.

10. Texas State (4-4)

This week: lost to Boise State
Next week: at Oregon State
Last week rank: #10

Texas State fell short in an epic second half comeback attempt on the road at Boise State. The benefits of joining the Pac-12 are many, but one of the downsides was the travel. Texas State is 0-2 in trips to the West Coast already and the team turns around and heads to Oregon State five days after returning from Boise State.    

11. Rice (1-7)

This week: Idle
Next week: at North Texas
Last week rank: #11

The Owls were off ahead of a trip to North Texas. The big question mark is QB Jacurri Brown’s health coming out of the open date, though back up Gael Ochoa was superb in his start two weekends ago against FAU.

12. Sam Houston (1-7)

This week: lost to Missouri State, 24-3
Next week: at Jax State
Last week rank: #12

Phil Longo was fired a day after losing by 21 to Missouri State. His tenure lasted 20 games and produced only three wins.

13. UTEP (1-7)

This week: lost to North Dakota State, 31-7
Next week: vs. Hawaii
Last week rank: #13

UTEP hung around with North Dakota State for 58 minutes of the game but never threatened the Bison down the stretch. The Miners lone touchdown was scored on their first offensive play. A winnable home game against Hawaii is up next.