We’re football dorks who love big, crazy ideas here at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. The Texas 47 – a seven-tier ranking of each of the 47 college football programs in the Lone Star State – was born from that vein. From the Texas Longhorns to the Mary-Hardin Baylor Crusaders and all the way down to the JUCO level, we place each program in Texas into a tier from national contender to conference basement. Where is your favorite team?  

Let the discussions (arguments?) begin. This list is the brainchild of Cory Hogue and Mike Craven.  

National contenders

Texas (5-0) - The Longhorns are undefeated after Week 5 for the first time since 2009, which is the last season that they played for a national championship. It is time to start buying Texas as one of the best teams in America. 

UIW (3-1) - The Cardinals are a formidable foe in Clint Killough’s first season as head coach and turn their focus to winning the Southland beginning this week.

Trinity (4-1) - The Tigers overcame travel woes and a game Berry team to command a stranglehold on the Southern Athletic Association.

Kilgore (4-1) - No team was likely to make it out of the SWJCFC unscathed. However, the Rangers can’t afford another loss if they hope to play for a national title.

Playoff contenders

Stephen F. Austin (3-2) - The Lumberjacks road to an FCS playoff berth will lie on their ability to traverse a problematic United Athletic Conference schedule.

Angelo State (3-2) - The Rams lost some of their luster nationally with consecutive losses. However, this ASU team remains a favorite to earn a playoff spot and can make noise.

Texas Wesleyan (4-1) - TxWes stumbled at home to a quality St. Thomas squad two weeks ago. The Rams playoff hopes are contingent on running the table. 

Conference contenders

Texas A&M (4-1) - A home game against Alabama in Week 6 will solidify the Aggies as contenders or pretenders. A win over the Crimson Tide puts Texas A&M in sole possession of first place in the SEC West. 

SMU (3-2) - An improving defense and run game, as well as a favorable schedule, give the Mustangs a real shot of reaching the AAC championship game. They don't play Tulane or UTSA in the regular season. 

Prairie View A&M (2-3) - PVAMU’s margin to win the SWAC West narrowed with a loss to Grambling. The Panthers must win out and hope the Tigers lose two conference games.

UTPB (4-1) - The Falcons asserted themselves as a contender for the Lone Star Conference title with a convincing win over Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Mary Hardin-Baylor (1-3) - UMHB isn’t used to being 1-3, but that record indicates the Cru’s challenging nonconference schedule. The Cru remain favorites to win the ASC.

Hardin-Simmons (3-1) - HSU’s home game in Week 9 against UMHB will likely determine the winner of the ASC’s automatic bid.

Howard Payne (3-1) - The Yellow Jackets could force a three-way tie for the ASC title with a win over UMHB and a Cru victory over HSU.

Tyler (3-1) - Tyler is the lone remaining undefeated team in SWJCFC action. However, the Apaches close with five consecutive conference games, including three on the road.

Trinity Valley (3-1) - Road games against Kilgore and New Mexico Military Institute will determine whether the Cardinals earn a spot in the SWJCFC playoffs.

Stock rising

Texas State (4-1) - A win over Louisiana in Week 6 would secure Texas State's spot as a conference contender. The Bobcats have already matched their 2022 win total in five weeks of the G.J. Kinne tenure. 

Rice (3-2) - The Owls are halfway to bowl eligibility and are 3-0 at home in 2023. 

Tarleton (4-1) - Tarleton has won all three games against FCS competition and begins conference play against a scary Southern Utah team this week.

Houston Christian (2-3) - The Huskies have been up and down this season, which is to be expected for a team still learning how to handle success.

Lamar (2-3) - Four or five wins is not out of the question for a Cardinals team that is vastly improved this year.

McMurry (2-2) - The potent War Hawks offense is back and has posted 105 points in their two wins while averaging 33 points per game this season.

Cisco (2-2) - Cisco has already surpassed expectations for this season, and the rest of the SWJCFC has taken notice of its improvement.

Steady

Houston (2-3) - The expectations weren't high in Houston for year one of the Big 12 ride, so losses to TCU and Texas Tech doesn't change the program's perception. 

North Texas (2-2) - The offense is starting to turn the corner, but the defense still looks like a problem in Denton. We'll know more about the Mean Green in conference play. 

Abilene Christian (2-3) - The bye week comes at a good time for an ACU team that has three consecutive losses. The Wildcats must win their next five games to contend for a playoff berth.

West Texas A&M (2-3) - The future is bright for the Buffs, and freshman quarterback Kanon Gibson is a big reason for the optimism.

Midwestern State (2-2) - MSU has a solid defense, but a lack of consistent play at quarterback will keep the Mustangs in the middle of the LSC.

East Texas Baptist (2-2) - Calvin Ruzicka is trying to change the culture of the ETBU program, and a win over Howard Payne this week would be a giant step.

Sul Ross State (2-2) - The Lobos two losses are to future LSC foes, but they remain a dangerous team in the final season at Division III.

Wayland Baptist (1-4) - WBU is an improved team in the first year of the Marcos Hinojos Sr. era and has three winnable games remaining on the schedule.

Navarro (3-2) - This season is eerily similar to last year for the Bulldogs, who lost their first two games before reeling off three SWJCFC victories.

Stock falling

Texas Tech (2-3) - The Red Raiders are playing below expectations this season, even with a Week 5 home win over Houston. Texas Tech's problems occur on the road and the Week 6 contest against Baylor is in Waco. 

Baylor (2-3) - Dave Aranda's squad scored 29 unanswered points in a comeback win over UCF on the road in Week 5 to potentially save the 2023 campaign. The Bears should be favored in their next four games. 

TCU  (3-2) - Sonny Dykes won his first 12 games as head coach at TCU. He's now 4-4 in his last eight dating back to the Big 12 championship game loss to Kansas State. 

UTSA (1-3) - The idle week came at a perfect time for a wounded Roadrunners squad that needs a healthy Frank Harris and JT Clark to make a run as first year members of the AAC. 

Texas Southern (1-4) - An injury likely to keep quarterback Andrew Body out for the rest of the season has soured the preseason optimism at TSU.

Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-1) - The Javelinas would be a conference contender, but quarterback Jacob Cavazos suffered his second concussion in five weeks against UTPB and may not return this season.

Texas Lutheran (1-3) - The Bulldogs have shown signs of improvement this year. However, TLU’s next four games are against the best of the ASC.

Southwestern (1-4) - Southwestern has been its own worst enemy, which has led to a disappointing start to its tenure in the Southern Athletic Association.

SAGU (1-3) - Injuries have ravaged the Lions roster in their second season under Greg Ellis. SAGU lost its quarterback to an injury in the Lions season opener against HPU.

Blinn (2-3) - The Buccaneers expected to contend for the SWJCFC title this season but have struggled to win close games.

Basement

Sam Houston (0-4) - The Bearkats blew a chance to start Conference USA life off with a win during the overtime loss to Jax State at home in Week 5. Sam Houston had the lead with 1:11 left in the game before Jax State scored 15 in a row to win.  

UTEP - (1-5) - The Miners are already halfway through the season thanks to a Week 0 start. They are 0-2 in conference play after the loss to La Tech. 

Texas A&M-Commerce (0-4) - The Lions have improved since Week 1, but that may not help them out of the basement in their second year of transition to FCS.

Austin College (1-3) - The Kangaroos are much better in Tony Joe White’s first season and are trying to survive in their final season as a member of the ASC.

Texas College (0-5) - Jarrail Jackson has vastly improved the Steers roster over the last two years, but that hasn’t led to wins on the field yet.