The Texas Longhorns were placed at No. 7 in the first College Football Playoff rankings released on November 4, 2026.
The ranking follows the team's victory over Mississippi State on October 31, 2026, at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. During that game, linebackers Justin Cryer and Rasheem Biles along with edge rusher Zina Umeozulu celebrated a sack.
