The college football regular season is approaching dusk with two weekends of action remaining. All 13 FBS programs in the Lone Star State battle on Friday or Saturday in Week 13 with stakes rising across the country. 

Texas, Texas A&M, and SMU are in the College Football Playoff picture. Sam Houston is still alive in Conference USA. North Texas and UTSA could become bowl eligible with wins. Eight teams in Texas are already bowl eligible. 

1. Can Texas, Texas A&M avoid upsets ahead of Lone Star Showdown? 

The Horns and the Aggies are one win away from an historic showdown in College Station on Nov. 30. If Texas beats Kentucky at home and Texas A&M knocks off Auburn on the road, the Week 14 clash between the two long-lost rivals could carry more stakes than any of the previous 118 meetings. And that’s not hyperbole. The 1975 season is the only time both programs won 10 or more games in the same season. When one is good, the other stinks. 

Not in 2024. Texas is ranked third and A&M sits at 15 in the CFP rankings with two weeks to go. Both control their own destiny to the SEC championship game, which virtually clinches a spot in the CFP regardless of outcome in Atlanta. The Aggies have the harder Week 13 matchup, traveling to Auburn for a night game as 2.5-point favorites. \

2. Do UTSA, North Texas become bowl eligible? 

The two rivals have traveled opposite paths in the 2024 season. North Texas started hot and built a 5-1 record halfway through the season. UTSA limped to a 2-4 start. Since then, the Roadrunners are 3-1 and are on a two-game winning streak, including last week’s victory over the Mean Green at home. Those same Mean Green are on a four-game losing streak after the fast start and need to win one of the last two to clinch a bowl bid for the first time in Eric Morris’ tenure. 

3. Is the Sam Houston offense good enough to beat Jax State?

The Bearkats are on a three-game winning streak despite the offense scoring 42 total points over the last three weeks. They beat FIU with seven points and La Tech with nine points. They held off Kennesaw State last week with 23 points, but six of those were in overtime. Hunter Watson was knocked out of the Western Kentucky loss a month ago and he’s been up-and-down in his return. The explosive plays from the passing game early in the season have all but disappeared. That’s made it harder for the run game to find space. 

Watson did truck stick his way into the end zone for the game-winning score last week. He’s a gamer who won a JUCO national championship last season. He knows how to win on the big stage. He’ll lead Sam Houston on to one of those this Saturday when the Bearkats face CUSA favorite Jax State on the road. Jax State has scored at least 30 in each of its last eight games. Rich Rod’s offense can score points. Sam Houston’s offense must get into the 20s to give the Bearkats a shot. 

4. Will Baylor rolls past Houston? 

Few predicted Baylor to win six games or Houston to win four all season, much less with two games left to play. For different reasons, the Bears and the Cougars have plenty to celebrate because of 2024. Willie Fritz has laid a foundation and proven his concept can work in Third Ward with upsets over TCU and Kansas State. Dave Aranda coached himself off the hot seat thanks to a four-game winning streak and bowl eligibility. 

Baylor feels like a bad matchup for Houston in Week 13. The Cougars are better equipped to face physical, run-oriented teams like Kansas State and Utah. Offenses such as Kansas and Arizona State have given Houston trouble. Baylor is explosive offensively with Sawyer Robertson stepping into the limelight at quarterback, which has allowed Bryson Washington to flourish in the run game. 

5. How can SMU impress the committee? 

The Ponies remain on the outside looking in for the CFP with two weeks left in the season. Win out and it won’t matter because the ACC champion will get one of the Top 4 seeds. SMU would jump from out of the 12-team bracket to a bye into the quarterfinals if Rhett Lashlee’s squad beats Virginia and Cal to end the regular season and then presumably Miami in the conference championship game. But it wouldn’t hurt the Mustangs to blow out their final two opponents to set the stage for entry if they lose a close one to the Hurricanes in Charlotte.