Texas Tech Holds No. 13 in AP Top 25
Red Raiders keep their ranking after the latest Associated Press poll, with the Big 12 placing five teams in the top 25.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
Texas Tech remained at No. 13 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, receiving 931 total votes after defeating No. 22 Arizona in Lubbock. Voters also moved Utah up to No. 3 and Houston up one spot to No. 17, while Arizona fell two spots to No. 24.
Why it matters
Holding a top-15 position keeps Texas Tech in contention for a College Football Playoff berth as the season progresses. The Big 12's five ranked teams underscore the conference's depth this season.
Texas Tech received 931 votes in the AP poll, holding No. 13 while the Big 12 placed five teams in the rankings. The College Football Playoff committee's first top 25 release is scheduled for November 3, and its rankings will shape postseason seeding.
The players
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Big 12 football program from Lubbock, Texas, competes in the conference and is currently ranked No. 13 in the AP poll.
Arizona Wildcats
The Pac-12 football program from Tucson, Arizona, lost to Texas Tech after entering the game ranked No. 22 nationally.
College Football Playoff Selection Committee
The selection body that ranks teams and determines the 12-team College Football Playoff field each season.
The details
Texas Tech defeated the then-No. 22 Arizona Wildcats in Lubbock and was rewarded by AP voters, who kept the Red Raiders at No. 13. Texas Tech also held No. 13 in the Coaches poll after a one-spot rise.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Initial College Football Playoff Selection Committee top 25 release.
Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 8:30 p.m.: Texas Tech plays West Virginia at Galaxy Stadium.
December 6, 2026: The 12-team College Football Playoff field is revealed.
Season Trajectory
Texas Tech's position at No. 13 places it within the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff structure, where a single conference loss could decide whether the Red Raiders reach the bracket. The Big 12's five AP-ranked teams suggest the conference will compete for multiple playoff spots.
A win over West Virginia would give Texas Tech a chance to climb in the rankings before the committee's first release. Fans planning to attend Galaxy Stadium should note the 8:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, November 7.
The takeaway
Texas Tech's steady ranking gives it a path into the College Football Playoff conversation if it keeps winning, so the West Virginia game carries weight beyond a single Saturday.
What happens next
Texas Tech faces West Virginia on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. inside Galaxy Stadium, and the College Football Playoff committee releases its first top 25 on November 3.
Further reading
Explore more Football coverage for context on the Red Raiders' playoff chase in Lubbock.
