LUBBOCK, TX — Texas Tech University will begin the 2026 football season ranked No. 12 in the preseason U.S. LBM Coaches Poll, the highest preseason ranking by the coaches in program history.
The Red Raiders enter the season after winning the 2025 Big 12 Conference championship and are the highest-ranked Big 12 team in the preseason poll. BYU is ranked No. 15, followed by Utah at No. 21 and Houston at No. 24. Texas Tech opens conference play Sept. 18 against Houston in Lubbock.
Ohio State claimed the top spot in the preseason rankings, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame. Defending national champion Indiana is ranked No. 6, while Miami, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Alabama round out the teams ahead of Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders finished the 2025 season ranked No. 7 after appearing in every edition of both the U.S. LBM Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Top 25. Texas Tech entered last season ranked No. 24 in the preseason coaches poll.
The previous highest preseason ranking for Texas Tech in the coaches poll was No. 14 before the 2008 season. The program's highest preseason ranking overall came in 1977, when the Associated Press ranked the Red Raiders No. 8.
The Associated Press preseason poll is expected to be released later this month.
Texas Tech reported for preseason camp Tuesday and opens the 2026 season Sept. 5 against Abilene Christian at Galaxy Stadium.
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