Texas FBS rankings week 7
The race to be the No. 1 team in Texas is heating up between Longhorns and Aggies
Oct 10, 2018, 7:05 am
Texas has 12 FBS teams. Each week we rank them based on season-long performance, the prior game, and success relative to their competition. These are the updated rankings following Week 6 and looking forward to Week 7:
While UTEP gave 4-1 UNT a serious scare last weekend, the Miners still failed to get their first win of the season. They came up just 3 points short of upsetting the Mean Green in their 24-27 loss. At 0-6, UTEP will hope to get their first win in week 8 vs. Louisiana Tech, after they get a chance to rest and prepare during their bye week.
With a disappointing loss to UTSA in Week 6 where the Owls only scored 3 points, Rice is now on a five-game losing skid and does not look to have any idea of how to turn things around. Rice will face a quietly talented, 4-1 UAB team in Week 7 and needs to make a lot of adjustments if they hope to salvage any part of their season.
After starting the season 1-1, the Bobcats have lost three straight and do not look to have made any real progressions as a program. Texas State will face off against the 4-1 Georgia Southern Eagles in Week 7 which will be another uphill battle.
The Road Runners were somehow able to defeat the Rice Owls 20-3 with only 43 total passing yards this past weekend on their way to securing their third straight victory. UTSA now sits at 4-3 on the season and has an interesting matchup with Louisiana Tech in Week 7 as they chase a four-game win streak.
After winning two games in a row in Weeks 5 and 6, the Mustangs took a 48-20 beat down from No. 10 UCF. Luckily SMU will have a chance to bounce back after their bye week when they return to action in Week 8 against Tulane. SMU has continued to show uncertainty about their quarterback position as Ben Hicks and William Brown are still sharing playing time midway through the season. Finding a consistent and reliable quarterback will play a big role on how the second half of the season goes for the Mustangs.
The Bears stay in the Big 12 hunt after securing their fourth win of the season in Week 6 vs. Kansas State. Baylor has a very respectable 4-2 record this season but will be facing a buzzsaw in Texas this coming weekend. The Bears could make a lot of noise in the college football world if they are able to upset a Longhorn team that has recently lodged themselves in the college football spotlight.
After a full week of rest, the Horned Frogs will be thrown back into the fire with the hope of salvaging the second half of their season. The is not doubt that TCU will return hungry to get back to their winning ways in Week 7 but will have to do so by taking down an explosive Texas Tech team.
While Texas Tech fell short in in Week 6, it happened to be against one of the best teams in the nation, undefeated West Virginia. After falling behind 28-7 in the first quarter, the Red Raiders put on an impressive fight as they climbed back into the game, even after starting quarterback Alan Bowman was forced out with an injury. With Bowman expected to play in week 7 vs. TCU, Tech will be excited to get back on the field.
North Texas drops another spot in these rankings after a measly 3-point victory over a UTEP team who has not won a game in almost two years. The Mean Green still seem to be recovering from their heartbreaking loss to Louisiana Tech that ruined their chance at a perfect season. UNT must get back to the high level of play they displayed early in the season if they hope to finish this year like they started.
Houston jumped three spots in this week’s rankings after they secured their fourth win of the season vs. Tulsa. The Cougars have looked impressive since their week 3 loss to Texas Tech, and with the strong play of quarterback D’Eriq King there is limitless potential for the rest of their season. Houston will face an East Carolina team that recently suffered an embarrassing 49-6 loss to Temple in week 6.
Texas A&M fought their way back into the Top 25 rankings after a Week 6 win over a talented Kentucky team. The Aggies have continued to display their versatility on the offensive side of the ball and have the ability to defeat any opponent that lines up against them. With that said, A&M has without a doubt one of the most difficult schedules remaining in college football. Currently three of their six remaining games will be against Top 25 ranked programs, and all of their final six opponents have winning records this season.
After what will go down as one of the most impressive wins of this college football season, the Longhorns not only re-asserted their position as the No. 1 team in Texas but also jumped into Top 10 national rankings. Texas took down the No. 7 ranked Oklahoma Sooners 48-45 and racked up their third victory over a Top 25 ranked opponent this season. While there are still many games to play this season, the Longhorns now have their sights set on competing for a national championship.
Luka Doncic had 41 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and the Dallas Mavericks prevented the Houston Rockets from advancing to the quarterfinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament with a 121-115 victory on Tuesday night.
Kyrie Irving added 22 of his 27 points in the second half for the Mavericks, who had already been eliminated. Their victory allowed the New Orleans Pelicans to win Group B in the Western Conference with a 3-1 record.
Doncic fell just short of his 59th career triple-double. That would have tied him for ninth place all-time with Larry Bird. He shot 15 of 29, 3 of 10 on 3-pointers.
“Sometimes we take him for granted, and we shouldn’t,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “He’s about winning, but it just so happens he’s a walking triple-double.
”The Mavericks, who trailed by nine points in the third quarter, grabbed the lead for good at 99-98 with 6:25 to play on a drive by Irving. Leading 103-100 with 5:25 left, they went on an 8-2 run that included three free throws by Derrick Jones Jr. when he was fouled by Dillon Brooks on a 25-footer with the shot clock about to expire.
Jabari Smith Jr.’s 3-pointer with 8 seconds left pulled the Rockets within 119-115 before Dallas closed it out.
Doncic played after sustaining a low-grade sprain of his left thumb on his non-shooting hand early in Saturday’s game. He wore a wrap on the thumb.
Doncic made a hook shot from the free throw line after recovering a loose ball near the baseline.
“I’m 2 for 2 in my career on the hooks,” Doncic said, saying the other came while playing for the Slovenian national team against Sweden.
Irving shot 2 for 11 in the first half, 1 for 5 on 3-pointers, with no free-throw attempts. He was 6 for 11 in the second half, hitting 1 of 2 behind the arc, and sank all nine free throws.
“I told the team, ‘Played well enough to win, not smart enough to win,’” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “We were extra-aggressive, especially at the end of the third quarter. Had multiple players make a few dumb fouls, put Kyrie at the line and got him going when he didn’t have a lot going. You can be aggressive, obviously, but slapping somebody on a 3-point shot on the arm is an unintelligent play. It has nothing to do with aggression.”
Alperen Sengun had a season-best 31 points for the Rockets, who had six scorers in double figures. Fred VanVleet had 10 points and 12 assists.
The Rockets have lost all six of their road games this season. They went into play leading the NBA by allowing an average of 104.4 points per game.
The Mavericks didn’t use the specially built court for either of their home tournament games, citing dissatisfaction with the quality.
Rockets: Will finish a back-to-back at Denver on Wednesday.
Mavericks: Host Memphis on Friday.