Nine of the 13 FBS programs in the Lone Star State are in action in Week 6 as Texas, UTSA, Rice, and North Texas are idle. Five of the nine teams in action play before Saturday, including last night’s game between Sam Houston and UTEP. Texas State played Troy. Entering Week 6, the 13 FBS programs in Texas were a combined 36-27. 

Here are my five questions heading into the weekend. 

1. Can the Houston Cougars score against Big 12 foes? 

The Coogs rank 134th out of 134 FBS teams in scoring offense after five games with 10.4 points per game. Of the 52 points scored over those five contests, 33 came against Rice. The offense accounted for seven in the Week 1 loss to UNLV and 16 against a solid Oklahoma defense. They’ve scored zero points in eight quarters against Big 12 foes heading into the Week 6 clash with TCU. The Horned Frogs are 21st nationally in scoring offense at 38.6 points per game. The Frogs defense is leaky, however, exhibited by the 66 points allowed against SMU. Willie Fritz rotated Donovan Smith and Zeon Childress at quarterback last week in the loss to Iowa State. 

2. What tier of the SEC do the Aggies belong? 

Tier 1 in the SEC this season seems clear – Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia. Maybe Ole Miss is there, as well, but I’ll place the Rebels at the top of Tier 2. Texas A&M’s Week 6 opponent – Missouri – is also in Tier 2 alongside Oklahoma and LSU. The Aggies want to solidify themselves into a clear Tier 2 squad in 2024 because remember, a 9-3 season puts you on the bubble of the 12-team extended playoff. Texas A&M’s schedule sets up perfectly if Mike Elko’s crew can win at home as two-point favorites against the Tigers.  

3. Is SMU a true ACC contender? 

The Ponies were an impressive 2-1 in a three-game home stretch against BYU, TCU, and Florida State. They were 0-3 against the Power Five in 2023, so a winning record against such opponents in 2024 is a sign of progress. The next step is traveling on the road to a hostile environment and leaving with an upset. SMU is surely capable. The Mustangs scored a combined 108 points in two games since anointing Kevin Jennings as the starting quarterback. That BYU loss doesn’t look so bad in hindsight. SMU also leads the nation in non-offensive touchdowns. Remember, Miami and Clemson aren’t on the regular season schedule, so a win over Louisville in Week 6 puts SMU firmly into the ACC championship game mix. 

4. Has Texas Tech figured out is road troubles? 

The Joey McGuire era is a bit Jekyll and Hyde when it comes to home and away success. He’s 14-3 at home in his 2+ years as head coach in Lubbock, but the Red Raiders are 3-9 on the road in that timeframe. That must change for Texas Tech to compete for a Big 12 crown. They knocked off two underrated foes in Cincinnati and Arizona State at home to set up a contender’s elimination match against Arizona in the desert with a 10 p.m. Central kickoff time. 

5. Can Baylor play four quarters of football?  

Baylor has played 12 quarters of football this season against Big 12 competition, even if the Utah game is considered non-conference. The Bears arguably won 9 or 10 of those 12 quarters while losing all three games. Let’s take the last two. Baylor dominated Colorado for most of the first three quarters only to fall apart down the stretch and eventually lose in overtime. Against BYU, the converse occurred. The Bears fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter before finding their footing and nearly winning the game late. To beat Iowa State on the road and cool the scorching hot seat under Dave Aranda, Baylor must play four quarters of winning football. And that might still not be enough against the surging Cyclones.