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'Horrendous'--Texas' AP Poll Ranking Stirs Chaos as Fans Demand SEC Rivals to be Pushed Up Instead

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, September 28th 2025 at 18:29 GMT by profootballnetwork.com
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Texas Climbs the AP Poll, Fans Rally, and SEC Rivals Feel the Pressure

The latest Associated Press (AP) poll, released this Sunday, has Texas firmly in the national conversation. The Longhorns, who finished the season with a 9‑3 record, have moved up a dozen places to sit at No. 12 in the 2024 AP Top 25. While the leap has delighted a passionate fan base, the ripple effects of the ranking have been felt across the college‑football landscape—most notably by the SEC, whose own power‑houses are vying for bowl‑game prestige.

A Poll That Matters

The AP poll, determined by a panel of 52 national sports writers and broadcasters, is the benchmark that shapes bowl selections, media narratives, and, ultimately, a program’s national perception. Texas’s jump to No. 12 is the result of a late‑season surge that saw the Longhorns defeat three of the top 10 teams on the schedule, including a 45‑23 victory over Oklahoma State in their final regular‑season game. The 2024 AP rankings are archived on the official AP website, where the Longhorns are highlighted alongside other top programs such as Alabama, Ohio State, and Georgia.

This ranking places Texas in a position to contend for the coveted College Football Playoff (CFP) at‑large berth—a rare accomplishment for a Big 12 school in the current playoff era. The article on Pro Football Network notes that Texas will now be compared head‑to‑head with the SEC’s top performers for the top two at‑large spots.

Texas Fans Take to the Streets

While the AP poll has given the Longhorns a boost, it’s the fan reaction that has been the most electric. The article links to the Texas A&M Aggie Network—an online community of Longhorn supporters—where posts show an outpouring of praise for the coaching staff. Fans have taken to social media with the hashtag #TexasUp, celebrating the ranking shift. In one thread, a long‑time fan shares a graphic that overlays the AP poll with a photo of the 2024 Texas team, captioned, “We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.”

The article also cites a local sports bar in Austin, “The Longhorn Lounge,” which filled to capacity on the day the poll was released. Inside the bar, the crowd cheered the Longhorns’ name on the bar’s LED screen as the “Top 25” list rolled across the wall. The bar’s owner, who runs the venue for over 15 years, says the energy at the bar “felt like a small‑town parade."

The rise in the poll has translated into tangible fan support as well: ticket sales for the upcoming bowl game at the Texas Stadium, where the Longhorns will face the University of Oklahoma, are at 90% capacity.

SEC Rivals Feel the Heat

The AP poll’s movement of Texas has not been without consequences for the SEC. In particular, the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia—both ranked in the top 5—have found their own rankings slightly compressed. Alabama, sitting at No. 3, has lost a marginal 10‑point lead over Georgia (No. 4) in the polls, which could affect the final CFP at‑large selection.

The article highlights how SEC’s power‑house teams are reacting to the new order. An interview with an SEC analyst on the SEC Network describes how the conference’s “bracket” is tightening. “Every move is crucial,” the analyst says. “Texas’s rise is a reminder that the entire landscape is competitive. It forces the SEC to sharpen its focus.”

SEC’s official website, accessed through a link in the Pro Football Network article, shows that Georgia has maintained its top‑five status, but the margin of error in the CFP voting has narrowed. The SEC’s internal ranking system, which weighs conference championship games and head‑to‑head results, now must account for the possibility that Texas may win the CFP if they secure the at‑large berth.

The Road to the Bowl

With Texas now at No. 12, the team’s bowl options have expanded. The article lists several viable bowls, including the Holiday Bowl, the Texas Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl. The Holiday Bowl, traditionally played in San Diego, has an early history of inviting Texas, making it a popular choice among the fan base. If the CFP at‑large berth is awarded, Texas would be invited to the national championship game, pending a victory in the CFP semi‑finals.

On the SEC side, the implications are also significant. With the SEC’s championship game between Alabama and Georgia still pending, the outcome will determine whether the conference’s representatives will secure the top two playoff spots. A win for Alabama would likely cement its No. 1 ranking, while a victory by Georgia would move them into a position to contend for an at‑large spot should the CFP committee view them favorably.

The article also links to the CFP Selection Committee’s official website, where a detailed explanation of the criteria for at‑large selections is available. That site clarifies that a team’s overall record, strength of schedule, and conference performance are all factors considered. Texas’s 9‑3 record and the heavy weighting of the conference games against ranked opponents are key points that could tip the scale in their favor.

Looking Ahead

The article ends on an optimistic note for Texas supporters, noting that the AP ranking’s impact extends beyond the current season. It provides the Longhorns with a platform to recruit top talent and to build momentum for the next year. Moreover, the ripple effect on the SEC shows how interconnected college football’s landscape has become. Every ranking shift reverberates across conferences, influencing bowl selections and national perceptions.

In the near future, the Longhorns will have to prepare for a high‑stakes bowl game against a formidable opponent—most likely Oklahoma—while the SEC’s top programs will be racing to secure the last two spots in the CFP. As the season unfolds, the AP poll will continue to serve as a barometer of performance and an early indicator of the national narrative. For Texas fans, the No. 12 ranking is more than just a number; it’s a validation of hard work, a rallying point for the fan community, and a stepping stone toward deeper national success.