The Longhorns jumped Alabama and landed right behind top-ranked Florida on Sunday, a day after winning 41-14 at Oklahoma State in their best performance of the season.
Florida, No. 1 for all but one week this season, received 38 first-place votes after a 41-17 victory over Georgia.
The Longhorns started the season ranked second, but have been No. 3 behind the Gators and Crimson Tide the last three weeks. Texas received 13 first-place votes from the media panel. Many voters were swayed by the ease with which Longhorns handled Oklahoma State.
Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer jumped Texas from No. 3 to No. 1, past both Florida and Alabama.
"The Longhorns haven't had the same type of struggles that Florida and Alabama have experienced in some down-to-the-wire games, and a blowout win over their toughest opponent of the season finally added some heft to the Longhorns' schedule," he said. "But I still think Texas, Florida and Alabama are separated by very little at the top."
The Longhorns are also second in the latest BCS rankings, also released Sunday. Florida is first.
