Texas and Texas Tech Stand Alone: Updated Texas FBS Power Poll After Week 11

And then there were two. The state of Texas entered Week 11 with four teams that had College Football Playoff aspirations. That was until Houston lost on the road to Colorado on Friday night and SMU was blown out at home against Wake Forest. Texas, with a late touchdown against LSU, and Texas Tech following the win at Oklahoma State, remain in the race.

In the G6, UTSA and Texas State control their own destiny to conference championship games while the bottom of the state – Rice, Sam Houston, and UTEP – are a combined 3-27 on the year.

Here is the updated FBS Power Poll following Week 11.

1. Texas (8-2)

This week: beat LSU, 22-21
Next week: vs. Arkansas
Last week: #1

The Longhorns took a major step towards punching their ticket to the College Football Playoff in the last-second road win over LSU. Arch Manning improved to 9-2 against Top 25 opponents as a starter, including a 5-0 mark in 2026. His lone touchdown pass came with three seconds left in the game. The Texas defense created three turnovers and held LSU to only seven points in the second half.

2. Texas Tech (9-1)

This week: beat Oklahoma State, 52-27
Next week: at Baylor  
Last week: #2

The Red Raiders returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and never looked back in an impressive road win over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech alum Eric Morris. Thomas Castallanos threw for four touchdowns and the defense shutout a potent Cowboys offense in two of the four quarters. Joey McGuire’s group can return to the Big 12 Championship game with wins against Baylor and TCU.

3. Houston (7-3)

This week: lost to Colorado, 42-32
Next week: at West Virginia
Last week: #3

The Cougars allowed 11 big plays, including four touchdowns of over 30 yards, in the Friday night loss on the road to Colorado. Their Big 12 Championship game and College Football Playoff hopes went up in smoke despite holding a 20-7 lead late in the second quarter. The Buffs hadn’t scored more than 24 points in regulation against an FBS team until posting 42 against Houston.

4. SMU (7-3)

This week: lost to Wake Forest, 49-7
Next week: at Notre Dame
Last week: #4

SMU was embarrassed at home on in Kevin Jennings’ last start in Dallas. Wake Forest made a College Football Playoff statement, leading 42-0 at halftime in a game that was never a contest. The Mustangs defense allowed 6.4 yards a carry and six touchdowns on the ground while only gaining 66 yards on 27 carries offensively.

5. UTSA (8-2)

This week: beat North Texas, 35-16
Next week: at UAB
Last week: #7

Jeff Traylor’s squad responded after a Week 10 loss to FAU by outlasting rival North Texas at home to take control of the American Conference. If the Roadrunners win out, they’re hosting the conference championship game, probably against Memphis. Running back A’Marion Peterson set a school record with four rushing touchdowns in the game. He has a school record 16 rushing touchdowns on the season.

6. Baylor (6-4)

This week: lost to BYU, 28-7
Next week: vs. Texas Tech
Last week: #5

Baylor’s two-game winning streak under interim head coach Joe Klanderman was snapped in the road loss against No. 10 ranked BYU. The Bears offense only managed 238 total yards and 16 first downs. Baylor running backs combined for 37 yards on 12 carries as QB D.J. Lagway led the team in rushing with 42 yards. The offense didn’t score until the fourth quarter.

7. TCU (5-5)

This week: beat Kansas State, 20-10
Next week: vs. Utah
Last week: #8

The TCU defense kept Kansas State out of the end zone in three of the four quarters and only allowed 2.3 yards a carry. QB Jaden Craig threw for 225 yards and a touchdown in the win. The Horned Frogs are now one win away from bowl eligibility but the last two games of the season are against Utah and Texas Tech. Sonny Dykes remains on the hot seat.

8. Texas State (6-4)

This week: beat Fresno State, 37-35  
Next week: vs. Washington State
Last week: #10

The Bobcats control their own destiny to the Pac-12 Championship game and a rematch with Boise State after outlasting Fresno State at home on Saturday. They never reached the conference championship game in the Sun Belt. G.J. Kinne has Texas State bowl eligible for the fourth straight year. QB Brad Jackson accounted for over 400 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

9. North Texas (7-3)

This week: lost to UTSA, 35-16
Next week: at Tulane
Last week: #6

Losing to rival UTSA is bad, but losing starting quarterback Tayven Jackson to a major injury was even worse. The good news is that redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Jimerson led two touchdown drives in the second half to make the Roadrunners sweat. The Mean Green defense played well until two late UTSA touchdown runs put the game away.  

10. Texas A&M (4-6)

This week: lost to Tennessee, 22-7  
Next week: at Oklahoma
Last week: #10

Mike Elko began his postgame press conference by apologizing to the Texas A&M fan base and promising improvement next year following the loss to Tennessee. The Aggies are now 1-6 in SEC play and staring at a 4-8 season with a trip to Oklahoma and a home game against Texas remaining. Marcel Reed was 9 of 22 for 71 yards and an interception. Texas A&M hasn’t beaten an FBS team since Oct. 3.

11. Rice (1-9)

This week: lost to Tulane, 20-17
Next week:
Last week: #11

Three of Rice’s six conference losses have come by one possession and the Owls have been within one score of its opponent in the second half in all eight losses to G6 programs this season. Scott Abell’s program has experienced a sophomore slump and the latest loss to Tulane feels like one that got away. Rice led 17-6 at half but was shutout in the second half.

12. Sam Houston (1-9)

This week: lost to Kennesaw State, 26-7
Next week: vs. Middle Tennessee State
Last week: #13

The coaching change hasn’t helped Sam Houston build any on-field momentum. The Bearkats have lost seven straight and haven’t scored more than seven points in four of its six conference games.

13. UTEP (1-9)

This week: lost to Wyoming, 27-15
Next week: at Air Force
Last week: #12

The Miners scored a touchdown with 8:11 left in the first quarter. They didn’t score again until a field goal with 50 seconds left in the third quarter. UTEP lost at home to a first time starter at quarterback and remain winless against FBS competition in 2026.