Vanderbilt football has been counted out after its latest loss, but the Commodores are focusing on themselves.

Vanderbilt should stay firmly inside the top 20 after its road loss to Texas. The Commodores may be in the same group as multiple other SEC teams. Two-loss Oklahoma fell from No. 11 to No. 18, which is one spot ahead of Texas, in Week 9 after its loss to Ole Miss. Tennessee, another two-loss SEC team, is currently ranked No. 14.

Vanderbilt's big rally against Texas fell short in a 34-31 loss that could turn what could have been one of the great seasons in program into just a good one.

NASHVILLE—Vanderbilt football is a 7.5-point favorite against Auburn, per FanDuel Sportsbook.  Vanderbilt had been the underdog in 51-straight SEC matchups, but

Texas found a weakness in Vanderbilt's defense that proved its undoing in the game. Quarterback Arch Manning threw short, accurate passes to speedy receivers. Those receivers got out on the perimeter and forced missed tackles everywhere.

Yes, the Commodores are real College Football Playoff contenders, and earned their second consecutive ranked win on Oct. 25, defeating Missouri 17-10 in a wacky game. Missouri true freshman quarterback Matt Zollers completed a pass to Kevin Coleman Jr. on the final play of the game, but Coleman fell just short of the goal line as time expired.

The Texas Longhorns are officially heating up. The Longhorns held on to a narrow lead to beat the Vanderbilt Commodores and keep their College Football Playoff

Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian said that Arch Manning was fantastic against the Vanderbilt defense on Saturday.