Texas 47: TCU, Incarnate Word, Mary Hardin-Baylor among teams still in title hunts

Photo by Dave Campbell's Texas Football

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National contenders

TCU (9-0) - Sonny Dykes is still perfect as the Horned Frogs prepare for a trip to Austin. The dominant narrative will be about Gary Patterson, who could help the Longhorns slow down a TCU program that he himself stalled as the head coach in Fort Worth for the final few years of his tenure.  

UIW (9-1) - The Cardinals are not a team anyone will want to play in the playoffs with their combination of an explosive offense and stout defense.

Angelo State (10-0) - The grind of a long season without a bye began to show against Central Washington. The Rams need to refocus and start to prepare for the playoffs.

Mary Hardin-Baylor (8-1) - The Cru were not at their best on Saturday, which was due more to the play of Howard Payne than any illness that may have affected some players.

Trinity (9-0) - The Tigers are playing their best football of the season and hitting their stride in time for the playoffs. They will be a dangerous team moving forward.

Trinity Valley (8-1) - It won’t be easy, but if the Cardinals can win the SWJCFC playoffs, they will have a shot at a national title. 

Conference contenders

Baylor (6-3) - The Bears are playing their best football at the right time of the year. Baylor controls its own destiny to the Big 12 title game thanks to remaining contests against Kansas State, TCU, and Texas. 

Texas (6-3) - Steve Sarkisian recorded his first quality road victory in his 21-game tenure in charge of the Longhorns in a Week 10 win over Kansas State. The offense still struggled in the second half. 

UTSA (7-2) - The Roadrunners are on a six-game winning streak and appear to be headed back to another C-USA title game. 

North Texas (6-4) - Seth Littrell's program keeps winning C-USA games. The win over FIU was the 10th in the Mean Green's last 11 tries. 

Abilene Christian (6-3) - The Wildcats are one win away from securing its first conference title at the FCS level, which is remarkable in Keith Patterson’s first season.

Prairie View A&M (5-4) - The loss to Alcorn State kept the Panthers from seizing control of the SWAC West Division, but PVAMU continues to control its destiny to the SWAC title game.

Hardin-Simmons (8-1) - The Cowboys are nearly certain of earning an at-large bid to the playoffs with a win over Texas Lutheran this week.

Texas Wesleyan (8-2) - The Rams set a program record for wins in a season since restarting their football program in 2017, a fantastic testament to Joe Prud’homme and his staff.

Stock rising

Rice (5-4) - A win over UTEP put the Owls one win away from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2014. 

SMU (5-4) - Scoring 73 points on anyone is an impressive feat, but to do so over a program about to move to the Big 12 should inject plenty of confidence into the SMU program down the stretch. 

Lamar (1-8) - The Cardinals remained close to a solid Southeastern Louisiana squad through three quarters. Lamar’s offense is building momentum for the offseason.

Midwestern State (6-4) - That’s three consecutive wins for a Mustangs team that is building momentum for next year while getting younger players valuable time and success.

Howard Payne (6-3) - The Yellow Jackets have proven they are ready to challenge UMHB and HSU for the top spots in the ASC.

Texas Lutheran (4-5) - Four wins is a great start to the Neal LaHue era at TLU, and the Bulldogs will benefit from a move to the SCAC in a few years.

East Texas Baptist (4-5) - The Tigers young players are gaining valuable experience that ETBU hopes will lead to a playoff berth in two years.

Navarro (6-3) - Navarro has played its best football the last two weeks and has earned another shot at the defending national champions in the SWJCFC semifinals.

Kilgore (6-3) - The Rangers are looking to end Trinity Valley’s chance at a national title and have outscored the opposition 82-28 since losing to TVCC in Week 8.

Steady

Sam Houston (5-2) - The Bearkats were idle in Week 10.

Stephen F. Austin (5-4) - The Lumberjacks were idle in Week 10.

Texas Southern (4-5) - Texas Southern is a team on the rise under Clarence McKinney but not yet ready to compete with Jackson State and Florida A&M in the SWAC.

UTPB (5-5) - The Falcons record perfectly reflects a team that has been inconsistent throughout the season.

Sul Ross State (3-6) - SRSU has remained focused and motivated despite losing four of its last five games. Despite the recent struggles, the Lobos are one of the most improved teams in the country.

SAGU (6-3) - The Lions survived a trap game against a suddenly dangerous Texas College and will meet an angry and reeling Langston team on Saturday.

Stock falling

Texas State (3-6) - Jake Spavital's days might be numbered as the head man in San Marcos. 

Texas Tech (4-5) - The loss to TCU was the fourth in five games for Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are 0-4 on the road in 2022. 

Houston (5-4) - Expectations determine success and the Cougars are failing to live up to lofty hopes. 

UTEP (4-6) - A year of missed chances continued for the Miners in a last-second loss to Rice. 

Tarleton (5-4) - The season's final two weeks will show us where the Texans program stands after year three of their transition to FCS.

Texas A&M-Commerce (5-4) - The Lions need their offense to produce against Nicholls this week after only scoring 21 points in their last two games. The defense avoiding bad penalties would also help the cause.

Texas A&M-Kingsville (7-3) - Three consecutive losses have eliminated some of the shine from the Javelinas, who are still a vastly improved team over previous seasons.

West Texas A&M (5-5) - Injuries have decimated the Buffs defense, and the youth of the replacements has been showing the last few weeks.

Southwestern (3-6) - The Pirates have had issues closing teams out this season and must recover from the sting of the loss to TLU to prepare for a good Sul Ross team.

Tyler (5-4) - The Apaches took a nosedive at the end of the season, losing their final two games and missing the SWJCFC playoffs.

Basement

Texas A&M (3-6) - The losing streak in College Station was extended to five games in a home loss to Florida. The flu wasn't the only thing making the Aggies sick in Week 10. 

Houston Christian (2-7) - HCU ran into an offensive buzzsaw at UIW but can’t afford the short drives and turnovers to continue this week.

Austin College (1-8) - The ‘Roos flexbone offense is gaining steam and could challenge a reeling Howard Payne squad Saturday.

McMurry (1-8) - The War Hawks were idle in Week 10.

Wayland Baptist (2-7) - WBU’s rushing attack was solid against a good opponent last week, but the Pioneers need more from the passing game this week.

Texas College (1-8) - The Steers put a scare into SAGU and have taken a giant leap forward in Jarrail Jackson’s first season at the helm.

Blinn (3-6) - Six consecutive losses to end the season is disappointing for a Buccaneers team that began the year with hopes of competing for a conference title.

Cisco (3-6) - The Wranglers were idle in Week 10.

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