Saturday’s college football slate delivered big news for Texas fans. The Longhorns rallied late to beat Missouri 34‑20 on the road, preserving their chance to reach the College Football Playoff. At the same time, the Utah Utes and UCLA Bruins each stayed unbeaten, keeping the national rankings in flux.
Texas beats Missouri, stays on track
Texas (No. 10 in the AP poll, No. 7 in the CFP rankings) was dead‑locked with No. 19 Missouri (No. 18 CFP) deep into the fourth quarter. Arch Manning threw two second‑half touchdowns, first tying the game at 20‑all and then giving Texas the lead for good. The Longhorn defense sealed the win when Graceson Littleton recovered a fumble and returned it 44 yards, setting up Raleek Brown’s eight‑yard touchdown run that pushed the margin to 14 points. Texas now boasts a 4‑0 record against ranked opponents and will travel to LSU next week.
Utah holds off BYU to remain No. 3
The Utah Utes, ranked No. 3 in both the AP and CFP polls, survived a fierce challenge from No. 7 BYU, winning 28‑20. Turnovers proved decisive; BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier was intercepted four times, all in Utah territory. The Utes’ defense forced a crucial interception with two seconds left, preserving the victory. Utah’s win marks its highest‑ranked triumph since toppling No. 4 Southern California in the 2022 Pac‑12 championship. The Utes will travel to No. 24 Arizona next week.
UCLA completes perfect start with win at Minnesota
UCLA (No. 5 AP, No. 8 CFP) broke a tie against Minnesota in the fourth quarter to win 34‑20, improving to 9‑0—the first unbeaten season start since 1998. Backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach, filling in for the injured Nico Iamaleava, delivered back‑to‑back 75‑yard touchdown passes to Aidan Mizell, pulling the Bruins away in the final period. UCLA now faces a tough finish against Illinois, Michigan and Southern California.
What’s next for the playoff picture?
With Texas, Utah and UCLA all unbeaten, the race for the four playoff spots tightens. Texas will test its mettle at LSU (No. 15 AP, No. 14 CFP) next week. Utah’s next challenge is at Arizona, while UCLA must navigate a demanding stretch of games against Big Ten and Pac‑12 powerhouses. Missouri, despite the loss, still has a chance to rebound with upcoming games against No. 2 Georgia, No. 8 Kentucky and Oklahoma.
Other notable matchups
Nationally, No. 9 Alabama visited No. 15 LSU in a prove‑it showdown, while No. 8 Kentucky traveled to No. 16 Tennessee. In the Big Ten, No. 11 Ohio State hosted Oregon, a game with major playoff implications. On the West Coast, No. 2 Georgia headed to No. 12 Mississippi, and No. 21 Iowa prepared for a road clash with Northwestern after a dominant win over Wisconsin.
Fans across Texas and the nation will be watching closely as these teams battle for the coveted playoff berths. The next week promises more high‑stakes action that could reshape the top‑four picture.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
