Sarkisian likes Michigan matchup 'a lot more' with expanded CFP field

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Under the old College Football Playoff format, the team on the wrong end of high-profile nonconference games was at risk of being left out even if they finished without another loss.

Now, with the expanded format, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said he likes Saturday's matchup against defending national champ Michigan a lot more.

The Longhorns and Wolverines face off in Week 2 (11 a.m. CDT, FOX) and the loser can still make their playoff dreams come true. Obviously, winning is preferred, but a loss now doesn't sting nearly as bad with the 12-team CFP tournament in place.

"This is why you come to a Texas or go to a Michigan — to play in games like this," Sarkisian said Monday. "Our guys love this opportunity and I'm sure their players do, too. We get to go play in a marquee game on the road in a great environment for college football. If you win this game, that's great, but if you lose, it doesn't kill you."

The game is in the national spotlight with ESPN's College GameDay and FOX's Big Noon Kickoff in Ann Arbor and it's the only game featuring two teams in the Associated Press top 10. It's a huge game early in the season, but Sarkisian doesn't want the result to define who Texas is.

"If we win, that doesn't declare us this great team. And if we don't win, it doesn't mean the season is a failure. There's a lot of football left to be played," he said. "What it's going to do is serve as a barometer. We're going to get challenged in all three phases. Ideally, it can serve as a springboard for the rest of the season."

Under the new CFP format, the five-highest-ranked conference champions along with the next seven teams in the rankings fill out the field. The top four conference champs receive byes to the quarterfinals and the remaining eight teams play in the opening round at campus sites. Bowl sites are reserved for the quarterfinals and semifinals with the national title game Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The first CFP rankings come out Nov. 8, but there will be plenty of speculation and guessing about where teams could potentially end up. The result of the Texas/Michigan game will play a large part in fueling fans and pundits alike who think they can see the future. The only thing that matters is how the CFP selection committee sees the landscape.