No one knows exactly what the College Football Playoff selection committee will do in the first year of the 12-team playoff, but SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stumped for his conference before the Texas-Texas A&M showdown Saturday night at Kyle Field.

Texas enters Saturday night as the No. 3 team in the current College Football Playoff rankings, on track to both qualify for the 12-team field and earn a first-round bye (given to the winner of each of the Power 4 conferences). The Longhorns will quickly lose that comfortable position with a loss Saturday night.

After a flurry of upsets across college football, the Crimson Tide are now one of several previously secure teams on the outside of the College Football Playoff picture, joining Ole Miss and Colorado after disappointing performances on the road in conference play.