Houston in the playoff is a fantasy that ignores reality. The Big 12 is wide open, which means they'll lose to someone like Kansas State or Iowa State on the road. Their portal work doesn't magically fix a defense that got pushed around last season. Continuity only matters if you're continuing a winning culture, not a middling one. They'll finish with three losses minimum, and the committee has zero respect for that resume. The playoff is for elite teams, not feel-good stories. Save this receipt for when they're 8-4 and playing in the Armed Forces Bowl.