Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech lands at No. 12 in preseason Associated Press poll
August 17, 2026 | Football
The Red Raiders will open the 2026 season ranked at No. 12 in both preseason polls
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech came in at No. 12 in the Associated Press preseason top-25 poll that was released Monday, matching the Red Raiders' ranking from the U.S. LBM coaches poll that was unveiled earlier this month.
This is the second-highest preseason ranking in school history for the Red Raiders, who were previously slotted at No. 8 by the Associated Press prior to the 1977 season. Texas Tech has now appeared in at least one of the preseason top-25 polls in three of Joey McGuire's five seasons as head coach after starting the 2023 and 2025 campaigns at No. 24 in the coaches rankings and then at No. 23 in the Associated Press poll a year ago.
The Red Raiders were a mainstay in both the coaches and Associated Press polls a year ago, ultimately ending the season at No. 8 overall after a dominant regular season that featured a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff appearance. Texas Tech won a school record 12 games a year ago, all by at least 20 points, making the Red Raiders only the fifth team since 1936 to do so.
Texas Tech returns 11 starters from a year ago, including several All-Big 12 selections such as defensive lineman A.J. Holmes Jr., cornerback Brice Pollock, linebackers Ben Roberts and John Curry as well as placekicker Stone Harrington, tight end Terrance Carter Jr., wide receiver Coy Eakin and running backs J'Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey.
Holmes headlined seven selections to the preseason All-Big 12 team as he was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in a vote of media members who regularly cover the conference. Holmes was joined on the preseason All-Big 12 team by fellow returners such as Roberts, Pollock, Carter and Harrington as well as two newcomers in outside linebacker Adam Trick and linebacker Austin Romaine.
Ohio State will enter the season as the national favorite with the Associated Press and coaches both placing the Buckeyes at No. 1 in both polls. Oregon followed Ohio State at No. 2 overall with Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas rounding out the top five.
The Red Raiders were the highest ranked of four Big 12 programs in the Associated Press preseason poll as BYU is two spots back at No. 14, while Utah is ranked No. 21 and Houston is No. 23 overall. Three other Big 12 programs – Arizona, TCU and Oklahoma State – received votes by the more than 60 voters who make up the Associated Press poll.
Starting point in the AP Poll ?? pic.twitter.com/ff2c0pKTZf
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) August 17, 2026
