Texas football absorbed a potential blow to its College Football Playoff chances with the Hollywood Smothers injury. But coach Steve Sarkisian, quarterback Arch Manning and the Longhorns are alive and well. All after knocking off No. 18 Missouri 34-20 on Saturday.

Texas improves its CFP and even SEC title game hopes in the process.

Sark and company now own a 7-2 overall record. But the road win at Missouri hands Texas this accolade: Four different victories against teams ranked in the top 20.

The Longhorns took down previous No. 1 Ohio State with Manning leading the epic comeback from down 20. Texas later defeated No. 13 Tennessee inside Neyland Stadium. No. 7 Ole Miss fell in Austin on Halloween night, which helped pump new CFP hope for the ‘Horns.

Now this road win over a foe ranked in the top 25 adds to a growing postseason resume for Texas. Plus helps keep Texas in the race to land in Atlanta come Dec. 5, when the SEC Championship Game will be held.

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Texas still needs to win out to clinch a potential spot in the conference title game. Plus likely still needs multiple external factors to play into the Longhorns' favor. A la watching Kentucky and Georgia lose at least once. Texas owns the tiebreaker already over Ole Miss by virtue of its Halloween win. Even the Rebels going 10-2 won't guarantee Ole Miss makes it to Atlanta, especially if the ‘Horns own the same record.

So Texas remains alive and kicking, while Mizzou at three losses is now facing a more fringe chance of making it to the CFP.