Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders No. 8 in first CFP rankings release
November 04, 2025 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech, a mainstay in the Associated Press and Coaches polls since the preseason, was ranked No. 8 in the initial College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings released on Tuesday evening, live on ESPN. The CFP selection committee will release its rankings each Tuesday over the next five weeks, culminating with the final standings on Dec. 7 following conference championship weekend.
Tuesday's announcement marks the Red Raiders' first appearance in the CFP Top 25 in program history in the 12th year of the College Football Playoff era.
Texas Tech climbed back into the top 10 in both the AP and Coaches polls this past Sunday after a decisive 43-20 win at Kansas State. The Red Raiders have been ranked as high as No. 7 in the AP poll and No. 8 in the Coaches poll this season before a narrow 26-22 loss at Arizona State on Oct. 18. That defeat—Tech's only loss this season — came with redshirt freshman Will Hammond starting at quarterback in place of the injured senior signal caller Behren Morton. Hammond, with help from the Red Raiders' defense, climbed back into the game in the final two minutes, but a late drive led by Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, who extended the Sun Devils' streak to 11 consecutive wins over Big 12 opponents when he starts, upset the Red Raiders despite a last gasp 28-yard Hail Mary heave as time expired with one last chance to escape the game undefeated.
Texas Tech is poised for one of its most anticipated games in recent memory, as College GameDay rolls into town for this Saturday's Top 10 matchup against BYU, which was ranked by the CFP committee No. 7 on Tuesday.Â
The CFP selection committee meets in person each Monday and Tuesday before revealing its rankings live on ESPN. The final rankings and the 12-team playoff bracket will be announced 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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Tuesday's announcement marks the Red Raiders' first appearance in the CFP Top 25 in program history in the 12th year of the College Football Playoff era.
Texas Tech climbed back into the top 10 in both the AP and Coaches polls this past Sunday after a decisive 43-20 win at Kansas State. The Red Raiders have been ranked as high as No. 7 in the AP poll and No. 8 in the Coaches poll this season before a narrow 26-22 loss at Arizona State on Oct. 18. That defeat—Tech's only loss this season — came with redshirt freshman Will Hammond starting at quarterback in place of the injured senior signal caller Behren Morton. Hammond, with help from the Red Raiders' defense, climbed back into the game in the final two minutes, but a late drive led by Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, who extended the Sun Devils' streak to 11 consecutive wins over Big 12 opponents when he starts, upset the Red Raiders despite a last gasp 28-yard Hail Mary heave as time expired with one last chance to escape the game undefeated.
Texas Tech is poised for one of its most anticipated games in recent memory, as College GameDay rolls into town for this Saturday's Top 10 matchup against BYU, which was ranked by the CFP committee No. 7 on Tuesday.Â
The CFP selection committee meets in person each Monday and Tuesday before revealing its rankings live on ESPN. The final rankings and the 12-team playoff bracket will be announced on Selection Day, Sunday, Dec. 7.
Upcoming CFP Rankings Release Dates (run of show)
- Tuesday, Nov. 11: 6:00-7:00 p.m. CT
- Tuesday, Nov. 18: 7:30-8:00 p.m. CT
- 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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