Texas Tech Projected as No. 11 Playoff Seed
ESPN bowl experts see Texas Tech earning a first-round trip in the 12-team College Football Playoff after a Week 10 win over West Virginia.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Football
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ESPN's Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach project Texas Tech as the No. 11 seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff. The projection follows Texas Tech avoiding an upset against West Virginia in Week 10, while six teams ranked in the top 15 lost that week.
Why it matters
Only the top four seeds earn first-round byes, so Texas Tech's seeding determines whether it plays a first-round game on the road. The projections also reflect a volatile Week 10 that reshuffled the playoff picture.
ESPN's analysts base their projection on a 12-team field where Power 4 conference champions and the highest-ranked Group of 6 team receive automatic bids, with the top four seeds earning byes. Final seeding remains unresolved until the remaining regular season and conference title games are played.
The players
Kyle Bonagura
Bonagura is an ESPN college football analyst who contributes bowl and playoff projections.
Mark Schlabach
Schlabach is an ESPN college football analyst who covers bowl games and the College Football Playoff.
The details
Bonagura projects Texas Tech visiting No. 6 UCLA in a first-round game, while Schlabach projects a visit to No. 6 Miami, both on Dec. 18 or 19. Both analysts project Georgia and Utah to meet in the national title game on Jan. 25 in Las Vegas.
Timeline
Nov. 14: Texas Tech visits Oklahoma State.
Nov. 21: Texas Tech visits Baylor.
Nov. 26: Texas Tech hosts TCU.
Dec. 6: Selection Day for the College Football Playoff.
Dec. 18 or 19: Projected first-round playoff game for Texas Tech.
Season Trajectory
This 12-team projection sits within the College Football Playoff's expansion path, with a 24-team field debuting in the 2027 season. For Texas Tech, the seeding race in November determines whether a first-round road trip or a bye is in play.
Seeding determines whether Texas Tech opens the playoff with a bye or a road game against a top-six seed. Fans tracking the race should watch the November road slate, since results against Oklahoma State and Baylor will shape the final seed.
The takeaway
Texas Tech's playoff position is still open, and the November schedule will largely decide whether it earns a bye or a first-round road game. Watching the seeding math through Selection Day gives the clearest picture of its path.
What happens next
Texas Tech visits Oklahoma State on Nov. 14, Baylor on Nov. 21, and hosts TCU on Nov. 26 before Selection Day on Dec. 6.
Further reading
Follow Texas Tech's path in the Football section as the College Football Playoff race develops.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Red Raiders Wire.
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