Friday night, the University of Houston faces a massive test in its Big 12 opener, taking on No. 13 Texas Tech. This isn’t just another game; it’s a chance for the No. 22 Cougars to make a statement, rocket into the Big 12 title race, and really kickstart their case as a potential College Football Playoff contender. If they want to make that leap, they better be watching their Texas neighbors who’ve pulled it off before.
The Wild Paths to Glory Other Texas Teams Paved
Making the College Football Playoff is never easy, but if UH needs a roadmap, they don’t have to look far. In the last five seasons, an incredible five different Texas schools have made the CFP: TCU, Texas (twice), SMU, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M. Each one took a wild, unique path. Some teams began the season totally unranked before catching fire and making an unbelievable run. Others leaned on an ironclad defense or an explosive offense to carry them through. A healthy roster was always critical, especially when it came to the quarterback position. And almost every single time, there was that one massive, springboard win that changed everything, plus a little bit of good old-fashioned luck.
TCU’s Cinderella Story: Unranked to the Brink
You want an impossible dream? Look at TCU in 2022. The Horned Frogs, led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Max Duggan, went from being completely unranked to playing in the national championship game. Seriously, talk about a ride! They survived a bunch of nail-biters, beating Oklahoma State in double overtime and escaping Baylor on a last-play field goal from Griffin Kell. Even a 31-28 overtime loss to Kansas State couldn’t keep them out of the four-team playoff. As the No. 3 seed, TCU stunned Michigan with a 51-45 victory in the semifinals. That magical run ultimately ended when Georgia overwhelmed them 65-7 in the national championship. Still, TCU remains the only Texas school to play for a title in the playoff era. As TCU coach Sonny Dykes said, “Lots of things have to go right, every year, for every team that makes it as far as we did. You have to have the right collection of players and coaches in the locker room. You have to have the right plans in place week after week to execute. You have to stay healthy, have some of the turnovers go your way, and combine all of those factors into the right balance beginning when you bring the team back to campus in January.”
Texas’ Double-Dip, Double-Heartbreak
Then there’s Texas, the only school from the state to make multiple CFP appearances, doing it in back-to-back seasons under coach Steve Sarkisian. The Longhorns featured a steady Quinn Ewers at quarterback, a relentless explosive offense, and a consistent top-15 defense in both runs. In 2023, they went 12-2, snagged the No. 3 seed, and ultimately lost to Washington in the semifinals. That year, they beat Alabama on the road, lost to Oklahoma, and battled through an injury that sidelined Ewers before regrouping to win the Big 12 title. The very next year, 2024, they were 13-3 and the No. 5 seed, losing another semifinal, this time to eventual national champion Ohio State. That one stung, with Jack Sawyer’s strip sack of Quinn Ewers, which he returned for a game-sealing touchdown in the final minutes. As Sarkisian put it, “This may be a little bullish of me saying but we’ll play anybody in the country. I’m not shying away from that part.”
So, as Conner Weigman and Kobe Young gear up for Friday’s huge game against Texas Tech, it’s clear: the path to the CFP is wild, unpredictable, and usually involves a ton of drama. Can the Cougars learn from the epic highs and devastating lows of their neighbors and start their own unforgettable run? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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