Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders charge up CFP rankings to No. 5
November 18, 2025 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – The College Football Playoff selection committee ranked Texas Tech No. 5 in its third set of rankings of the 2025 season, announced live Tuesday night on ESPN.
Texas Tech (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) is currently positioned as the highest-ranked team among the 12 qualifying CFP teams that would play in the first round of the playoffs. That spot would place the Red Raiders in a home game against No. 12 Tulane – the highest-ranked Group of Five program – on either Dec. 19 or Dec. 20. Teams ranked Nos. 1-4 receive a bye into the quarterfinal round, which will be played at the Cotton Bowl (Dec. 31), Orange Bowl (Jan. 1), Rose Bowl (Jan. 1), or Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1).
The Red Raiders, who debuted at No. 8 in the CFP rankings on Nov. 4, impressed the committee with their 29-7 win over then-No. 7 BYU on Nov. 8, moving to No. 6. Tech bettered its ranking once again this week following a 48-9 victory over UCF and a home loss by then-No. 4 Alabama to Oklahoma that helped shake up the top of the poll.
Texas Tech closed its 2025 regular-season home schedule last Saturday, capping an undefeated 7-0 season at Jones AT&T Stadium – its first undefeated mark at home since 2008. It did so in dominating fashion, cruising to back-to-back wins of 29-7 (vs. BYU) and 48-9 (vs. UCF), marking the Red Raiders' first back-to-back wins while limiting its opponents to single-digit scoring since 2000 when the Red Raiders claimed victories over North Texas (13-7) and Louisiana (26-0). It was the first time doing so in conference games since Texas Tech's final season in the Southwest Conference in 1995, when it lost to Baylor (9-7) and defeated Texas A&M (14-7). The Red Raiders' scoring defense ranks No. 3 in the nation in 2025, allowing 12.3 points per game.
Joining the Red Raiders from the Big 12 conference in the CFP Top 25 in the third installment of rankings were four teams that they played earlier this season, including BYU at No. 11 (W), Utah at No. 12 (W), Houston at No. 23 (W), and Arizona State at No. 25 (L).
The Red Raiders' lone setback remains their Oct. 18 game at now-ranked No. 25 Arizona State, when redshirt freshman quarterback Will Hammond started in place of an injured senior Behren Morton. Hammond helped rally Texas Tech late, but Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt led a final drive to seal the Sun Devils' 11th straight win, at the time, over Big 12 opponents in games he has started.
Texas Tech closes its regular-season on Nov. 29 at West Virginia following its open date on Nov. 22. Per the Big 12, Texas Tech clinches a berth into the Big 12 Championship Game on Dec. 6 this weekend during its open date with a loss by Arizona State, and a BYU win over Cincinnati, or with losses by Arizona State, BYU, and Utah.
The CFP selection committee meets in person each Monday and Tuesday before unveiling its rankings live on ESPN. The final rankings and 12-team playoff bracket will be revealed on Selection Day, Sunday, Dec. 7.
Upcoming CFP Rankings Release Dates (run of show)
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The CFP selection committee ranks the top 25 teams at the end of the regular season. The five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams will be seeded into a 12-team bracket based on the final ranking, with the four highest-ranked teams receiving a first-round bye. The teams ranked Nos. 5-12 will play in the CFP First Round, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds. The Playoff Quarterfinals and Playoff Semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.
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Texas Tech (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) is currently positioned as the highest-ranked team among the 12 qualifying CFP teams that would play in the first round of the playoffs. That spot would place the Red Raiders in a home game against No. 12 Tulane – the highest-ranked Group of Five program – on either Dec. 19 or Dec. 20. Teams ranked Nos. 1-4 receive a bye into the quarterfinal round, which will be played at the Cotton Bowl (Dec. 31), Orange Bowl (Jan. 1), Rose Bowl (Jan. 1), or Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1).
The Red Raiders, who debuted at No. 8 in the CFP rankings on Nov. 4, impressed the committee with their 29-7 win over then-No. 7 BYU on Nov. 8, moving to No. 6. Tech bettered its ranking once again this week following a 48-9 victory over UCF and a home loss by then-No. 4 Alabama to Oklahoma that helped shake up the top of the poll.
Texas Tech closed its 2025 regular-season home schedule last Saturday, capping an undefeated 7-0 season at Jones AT&T Stadium – its first undefeated mark at home since 2008. It did so in dominating fashion, cruising to back-to-back wins of 29-7 (vs. BYU) and 48-9 (vs. UCF), marking the Red Raiders' first back-to-back wins while limiting its opponents to single-digit scoring since 2000 when the Red Raiders claimed victories over North Texas (13-7) and Louisiana (26-0). It was the first time doing so in conference games since Texas Tech's final season in the Southwest Conference in 1995, when it lost to Baylor (9-7) and defeated Texas A&M (14-7). The Red Raiders' scoring defense ranks No. 3 in the nation in 2025, allowing 12.3 points per game.
Joining the Red Raiders from the Big 12 conference in the CFP Top 25 in the third installment of rankings were four teams that they played earlier this season, including BYU at No. 11 (W), Utah at No. 12 (W), Houston at No. 23 (W), and Arizona State at No. 25 (L).
The Red Raiders' lone setback remains their Oct. 18 game at now-ranked No. 25 Arizona State, when redshirt freshman quarterback Will Hammond started in place of an injured senior Behren Morton. Hammond helped rally Texas Tech late, but Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt led a final drive to seal the Sun Devils' 11th straight win, at the time, over Big 12 opponents in games he has started.
Texas Tech closes its regular-season on Nov. 29 at West Virginia following its open date on Nov. 22. Per the Big 12, Texas Tech clinches a berth into the Big 12 Championship Game on Dec. 6 this weekend during its open date with a loss by Arizona State, and a BYU win over Cincinnati, or with losses by Arizona State, BYU, and Utah.
The CFP selection committee meets in person each Monday and Tuesday before unveiling its rankings live on ESPN. The final rankings and 12-team playoff bracket will be revealed on Selection Day, Sunday, Dec. 7.
Upcoming CFP Rankings Release Dates (run of show)
- Tuesday, Nov. 25: 6:00-7:00 p.m. CT
- Tuesday, Dec. 2: 6:00-6:30 p.m. CT
- Sunday, Dec. 7: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. CT
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The CFP selection committee ranks the top 25 teams at the end of the regular season. The five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams will be seeded into a 12-team bracket based on the final ranking, with the four highest-ranked teams receiving a first-round bye. The teams ranked Nos. 5-12 will play in the CFP First Round, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds. The Playoff Quarterfinals and Playoff Semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.
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Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballA.J. Holmes Jr. Media Availability
Tuesday, November 18
Bryce Ramirez Media Availability
Tuesday, November 18
Terrance Carter Jr. Media Availability
Tuesday, November 18
Davion Carter Media Availability
Tuesday, November 18