LUBBOCK, TX — Texas Tech football reached another program milestone Tuesday evening, earning its highest ranking in the modern playoff era as the Red Raiders debuted at No. 8 in the initial College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. The announcement was made live on ESPN, marking the first time in school history that Texas Tech has appeared in the CFP Top 25 since the system’s inception in 2014.
The Red Raiders, who have been ranked in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls since the preseason, climbed back into the national top 10 this week following their 43-20 win at Kansas State. Texas Tech now sits at No. 7 in the AP poll and No. 8 in the Coaches poll, continuing one of the program’s strongest seasons in recent memory.
The Red Raiders’ only loss of the year came in a narrow 26-22 road defeat at Arizona State on Oct. 18, a game started by redshirt freshman Will Hammond while senior quarterback Behren Morton recovered from injury. Despite the setback, Texas Tech nearly completed a comeback in the final minutes before a last-second Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete.
Now 8-1 overall and firmly in the Big 12 title race, Texas Tech is preparing for one of the most anticipated games in school history. ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast live from the Texas Tech campus ahead of Saturday’s Top 10 matchup against No. 7 BYU inside Jones AT&T Stadium.
The CFP selection committee will continue releasing updated rankings every Tuesday leading up to Selection Day on Dec. 7, when the final 12-team playoff field will be announced.
Upcoming CFP Rankings Schedule (Central Time)
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Tuesday, Nov. 11: 6:00–7:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, Nov. 18: 7:30–8:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, Nov. 25: 6:00–7:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, Dec. 2: 6:00–6:30 p.m.
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Sunday, Dec. 7: 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (Selection Day)
The College Football Playoff will feature the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams. The top four seeds will receive a first-round bye, while seeds five through twelve will compete in first-round games hosted by the higher seeds. Quarterfinals and semifinals will rotate annually among six major bowls, including the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar Bowls.
The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship will be played on January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
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