The top two teams from last week's Best in Texas poll met in a rainy, sometimes hard-to-watch game this weekend. Both teams, heavily affected by injuries, sloshed through a double-overtime game.
And there is a new No. 1 in the poll.
Here's a look at this week's Best in Texas poll, which is voted on by the Dallas Morning News' college insiders and bloggers, as well as Denton Record-Chronicle's Brett Vito. Make sure to click here to view the full breakdown.
1. TCU (9), 130 points
TCU Horned Frogs (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) / Last: 28-21 win over Baylor (2OT) / Next: bowl game, TBD
What a finish for the Horned Frogs. A grueling regular season finally has concluded, capped by TCU's toppling of Baylor in an ugly finale that spoiled the Bears' hopes for a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth. Now the Horned Frogs have a bowl game to look forward to, as most projections entering last Friday's showdown had them bound for Orlando's Russell Athletic Bowl. Should those projections hold up, TCU has a top ACC opponent (North Carolina?) to look forward to. Wide receiver Josh Doctson could be back in the lineup by then. The return of center Joey Hunt is not as certain. But this much should be safe to say: The worst of TCU's 2015 is in the rear-view mirror. -- Jose Rodriguez
2. Baylor (2), 123 points
Baylor (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) / Last: Lost to TCU, 28-21 in 2OT / Next: vs. Texas, 11 a.m. Saturday in Waco
Baylor's national championship aspirations heard the death knell after the Bears fell on Saturday to bitter rival TCU in a brutal rainstorm. Third-string quarterback Chris Johnson threw for the fewest yards by a Baylor quarterback since 2002, six years before Art Briles arrived on campus. The Bears have faced great adversity this season, cycling through three quarterbacks and having five defensive starters suffer injuries that kept them out of games. Baylor can still mathematically finish No. 2 in the Big 12 and earn a spot in the Sugar Bowl with a win over Texas next week at McLane Stadium. It may not be the Big 12 championship Baylor hoped to earn, but the Bears have plenty to gain from a potential matchup with an SEC opponent. -- Shehan Jeyarajah
3. Houston, 110 points
Houston (11-1, 7-1 AAC) / Last: Beat Navy, 52-31 / Next: vs. Temple, 11 a.m. Saturday
After a heartbreaking loss to UConn last week -- its only one of the season -- Houston rebounded with a statement 52-31 victory over nationally ranked Navy. The Cougars got a huge boost from quarterback Greg Ward, who missed last week with an injury. Ward was at full strength as he passed for 308 yards and three touchdowns. With the win, Houston clinched the West Division title and will now meet Temple for the American Athletic Conference championship next week. If the Cougars can come away with a victory, they will be in great position to earn a bid to a New Year's Six bowl game. -- E.J. Holland
4. Texas A&M, 98 points
Texas A&M (8-4, 4-4 SEC) / lost to LSU, 19-7 / Next: TBD
The 2015 season for Texas A&M will be remembered for finally getting its defensive issues solved, only to have the offense struggle for the majority of the season. After starting the season 5-0, questions on the offensive end and quarterback issues led to the Aggies closing the season on a 3-4 run. A bowl game still remains, and the case could be made that this season was progress over 2014, but next season's expectations will be very high. A .500 conference record in a near half-billion dollar stadium from a coach making over five million per year may not be enough to cut it long-term. -- Brandon Wheeland
5. Texas Tech, 89 points
Texas Tech (7-5, 4-5 Big 12) / Defeated Texas 48-45 / Next: Bye
The Red Raiders are guaranteed at least one more game after securing bowl-eligibility against Kansas State. Texas Tech added another defining moment to its season with a win over Texas on Thursday. DeAndre Washington led the Red Raiders with 173 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 28 carries while Jakeem Grant added two touchdowns - one rushing, one receiving - and finished with 207 all-purpose yards. Now the Red Raiders await their bowl matchup with national pundits slotting Texas Tech in the Texas, Liberty or Cactus bowl. -- Michael DuPont
6. Texas, 77 points
Texas (4-7, 3-5 Big 12) / Lost to Texas Tech, 48-45 / Next: at Baylor, 11 a.m. Saturday in Waco
The Longhorns saw their bowl hopes end Thursday after a 48-45 loss to Texas Tech. Texas was able to battle with the Red Raiders throughout the game. Junior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes scored on a 46-yard run to give the Longhorns a 38-34 lead in the fourth quarter. But Texas couldn't stop Texas Tech's offense. The Longhorns play their final game against Baylor on Saturday. There's a slim chance Texas could sneak into a bowl at 5-7, but it would have to upset the Bears, who are coming off a tough loss to TCU. -- Nick Castillo
7. UTEP, 66 points
UTEP (5-7, 3-5 Conference USA) / Last: Beat North Texas, 20-17 / Next: Season complete
UTEP pulled to a respectable 5-7 record with a three-point win over one-win UNT. The Miners lost top running back Aaron Jones early this season and top quarterback Mack Leftwich during two other stints. However, the Miners stuck around and finished a respectable 3-2 against teams from the state of Texas. Jones proved himself to be one of the best running backs in the state of Texas last season, and will have two remaining years at UTEP after earning a medical redshirt. The Miners should be competitive for bowl eligibility once again next year. -- Shehan Jeyarajah
8. Rice, 54 points
Rice Owls (5-7, 3-5 C-USA) / defeated Charlotte 27-7 / Next: Season complete
A 27-7 victory put an end to the Rice Owls four-game losing streak and allowed for the team to close out the season with a positive. Quarterback Driphus Jackson ran for a score, while running back Luke Turner continued the role reversal, passing for a four-yard touchdown. Rice ran for over 300 yards on the ground, downing Charlotte and handing it an 0-8 C-USA mark for the season. Six Owls registered rushing attempts in the game, with four players getting 8+ carries. The shutout held until the end of the contest, when Trent Bostick found Matt Johnson on a 56 yard pass. -- Brandon Wheeland
9. UTSA, 41 points
UTSA (3-9, 3-5 C-USA) / Lost to Middle Tennessee 42-7 / Next: Season complete
UTSA's season reaches an end with the Roadrunners failing to reach a bowl game for the third consecutive season. Junior running back Jarveon Williams - UTSA's leading rusher - did not participate and with Williams out of the lineup, the Roadrunners struggled on the ground gaining only 3.5 yards per carry. Sophomore quarterback Dalton Sturm was sacked three times in the loss, bringing the Roadrunners' total sacks allowed this season to 44, which ranks last among 127 FBS programs. UTSA coach Larry Coker has an interesting challenge ahead this offseason which must begin with addressing the concerns at the line of scrimmage. -- Michael DuPont
10. SMU, 32 points
SMU (2-10, 1-7 AAC) / Last: Lost to Memphis, 63-0 / Next: None
After a win over Tulane last week, SMU played its worst game of the year in a 63-0 blowout loss to memphis. The Mustangs failed to reach 100 yards of total offense, turned the ball over four times, allowed Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch to pass for seven touchdowns in the first half and became a laughingstock on social media by halftime. The Mustangs showed signs of improvement this year, but this isn't the way they wanted to close out the 2015 season. It's clear Chad Morris and company still have a lot of work to do on the Hilltop. -- E.J. Holland
11. Texas State, 25 points
Texas State (3-8, 2-5 Sun Belt) / Lost to Idaho, 38-31 / Next: at Arkansas State, 2 p.m. in Jonesboro, Ark.
The Bobcats battled with Idaho on Saturday but fell short 38-31. Junior quarterback Tyler Jones threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, while Texas State's rushing attack combined for 191 yards and two touchdowns. But the Bobcats gave up 309 passing yards and two touchdowns to Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan. The Vandals ran for 199 yards and three touchdowns on Texas State's defense. The Bobcats conclude the season against Arkansas State on the road. -- Nick Castillo
12. North Texas, 13 points
North Texas (1-11, 1-7 C-USA) / Lost to UTEP, 20-17 / Season complete
North Texas capped a lost season with a heartbreaking 20-17 loss to UTEP. The Mean Green were driving for the go-ahead touchdown late, but were flagged for an illegal block and a dead ball taunting call on the same play. UNT never recovered in a loss that left the Mean Green 1-11 on the season, tying with the 2008 team for the worst season in program history. UNT has now suffered losing seasons in 10 of the last 11 years and will look to a new coach to help turn the program around. UNT is expected to announce its hire this week. TCU assistant Doug Meacham and North Carolina assistant Seth Littrell are considered the leading candidates for the job. --Brett Vito
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