No. 7 Texas still has CFP hopes going into final Big 12 meeting at struggling TCU

2023-11-10 00:48

Texas is the only Big 12 team still with a realistic hope of making the four-team College Football Playoff

No. 7 Texas (8-1, 5-1 Big 12, No. 7 CFP) at TCU (4-5, 2-4), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Line: Texas by 10 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series: Texas leads 64-28-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Texas is the only Big 12 team still with a realistic hope of making the four-team College Football Playoff, and is trying to get to its first Big 12 championship game since 2009 before moving to the Southeastern Conference next year. After making the CFP last season and playing in the national championship game, TCU is just trying to get bowl eligible this season. The Horned Frogs have to win two of their remaining three games. They also host Baylor and go to 17th-ranked Oklahoma.

KEY MATCHUP

TCU running back Emani Bailey against the Texas defense. Bailey, fourth in the Big 12 at just under 101 yards rushing per game, is coming off a season-low 57 yards on 19 carries at Texas Tech. He did run for two TDs, matching his total for the first eight games. The Longhorns are the league's top rushing defense, allowing only 91 yards per game, and last week held Kansas State to 43 yards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Texas: All Texas eyes are still firmly on quarterback Maalik Murphy, who has teased and tormented the Longhorns with touchdown passes and turnovers while they wait for injured Quinn Ewers to return. Murphy has four TD passes and four turnovers in two starts, and defenders dropped what could have been two more interceptions. Still, he’s 2-0 and done just enough to keep the Longhorns on track for the Big 12 title game. Texas has upgraded Ewers as “day to day” with a shoulder sprain.

TCU: Linebackers Namdi Obiazor and Jamoi Hodge are TCU's top two tacklers. Obizaor leads the team with 73 tackles and has a sack in each of the last three games. Hodge has 51 tackles and a team-best eight QB hurries.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Longhorns have dominated this series historically but TCU has won eight of 11 since joining the Big 12. ... Texas has scored 30 points or more points in each of its first nine games for the first time in program history. Oregon and Michigan are the only other teams to score at least 30 in all nine games this season ... Texas edge rusher Ethan Burke returned from missing the game against BYU to get two sacks against K-State. He now has a team-high five this season.

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