Texas Tech climbs to No. 6 in College Football Playoff rankings

When the second College Football Playoff rankings dropped Tuesday night, the national spotlight once again turned to Lubbock. The Texas Tech Red Raiders made a statement, climbing to No. 6 after their dominant 29–7 win over then–No. 7 BYU at Jones AT&T Stadium. For a team that started the season with modest national expectations, Texas Tech has officially forced its way into the playoff conversation.

A Statement Win in Lubbock

The Red Raiders didn’t just beat BYU—they overwhelmed them. From the opening kickoff, Tech’s defense controlled the game, forcing three turnovers and holding the Cougars to under 250 total yards. Quarterback Behren Morton, back from injury, looked sharp and in command, and the offense found its balance once again. The victory was Texas Tech’s ninth by 20 or more points this season—no other team in the country can match that level of consistent dominance.

That kind of efficiency and control is exactly what the College Football Playoff committee loves to see. Style points matter in November, and Texas Tech delivered them in front of a national audience.

The Committee’s Respect Is Growing

The CFP ranking at No. 6 marks a two-spot jump from last week’s debut at No. 8, and it’s a significant sign of respect. In both the AP and Coaches polls, Texas Tech sits at No. 8—but the playoff committee has placed them ahead of Ole Miss and Oregon, both of whom rank higher in those media-driven polls.

That tells us something: the CFP committee values Tech’s dominance and the quality of their wins. It’s not just about name recognition or brand strength—it’s about performance. The five teams ahead of Texas Tech (Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Georgia) are all perennial playoff heavyweights. To be in that company, in mid-November, says a lot about how far this program has come.

The One Blemish

Every playoff contender has its “what if” moment, and for Texas Tech, it came back on Oct. 18 in Tempe. Starting redshirt freshman Will Hammond in place of the injured Morton, the Red Raiders fell 31–27 to Arizona State in a game that slipped away late. Hammond showed promise, leading a second-half rally, but veteran ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt engineered a clutch drive that sealed the win.

That lone loss could have doomed Tech’s chances in a normal season, but the committee seems to view it in context—without their senior quarterback, on the road, against a capable team. It’s not a disqualifying defeat.

What’s Next: Senior Day and Playoff Positioning

The Red Raiders close their home schedule this Saturday with Senior Day against UCF. A win would give Texas Tech its seventh 10-win season in program history—and perhaps more importantly, keep their Big 12 Championship Game hopes alive.

If they can finish strong and reach the conference title game, a playoff berth becomes very real. The current ranking suggests the committee already sees Texas Tech as one of the top non-SEC, non-Big Ten threats in the mix. With chaos likely to hit the top five in the coming weeks, the door is wide open.

The Road to Selection Sunday

The College Football Playoff selection committee meets every Monday and Tuesday to finalize its rankings, which are revealed live on ESPN each Tuesday night. The final set—the one that really matters—will drop on Selection Sunday, December 7, unveiling the first-ever 12-team playoff field.

If Texas Tech keeps winning, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where they’re left out.

Bottom line: Texas Tech is no longer a fun side story—they’re a legitimate playoff contender. The defense is elite, the offense has rediscovered its rhythm with Morton under center, and the committee is paying attention. The Red Raiders control their destiny, and for the first time in program history, a seat at college football’s biggest table is within reach.