Texas Tech has taken over the top spot in the Big 12 in ESPN’s updated Football Power Index after a chaotic Week 7, bumping Utah from No. 1 in the conference rankings.
The Red Raiders moved up two places nationally to No. 9 and landed at 19.4 in FPI after a convincing 53-25 win over Arizona State on Saturday. That victory pushed Texas Tech to 6-0 and kept its profile growing as one of the league’s leading College Football Playoff contenders.
Utah, which had been ahead of Texas Tech entering the week, slid three spots to No. 13 with a 17.4 rating after escaping Colorado 27-24 in Boulder. The Utes and Red Raiders are now separated by more than just the eye test in ESPN’s model.
Then there’s BYU, which may be the most eye-catching name in the mix.
The Cougars stayed at No. 14 nationally with a 17.4 rating even after knocking off No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 in Provo. BYU is also 6-0 and owns one of the strongest wins in the sport, but ESPN’s FPI still has the Cougars behind both Texas Tech and Utah in the conference pecking order.
Houston is the fourth Big 12 team in the FPI top 18, coming in at No. 18 with a 14.8 rating after edging Oklahoma State 35-32.
So the Big 12’s top tier now looks like this after Week 7:
No. 9 Texas Tech - 19.4
No. 13 Utah - 17.4
No. 14 BYU - 17.4
No. 18 Houston - 14.8
Texas Tech’s jump stands out most. The Red Raiders entered the week one spot behind Utah, but while Texas Tech handled Arizona State, Utah had to sweat out a late win over Colorado. ESPN’s latest numbers reflect that contrast.
With Texas Tech, Utah and BYU all sitting at 6-0, the Big 12’s upper class remains crowded and strong heading into the second half of the season.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Finally Delivered The Statement Win Fans Wanted
For a Texas Tech team that had been waiting to prove it belonged in the top tier of the Big 12 race, Saturday brought the kind of complete performance fans have been talking about. The Red Raiders rolled past Arizona State 53-25 to improve to 6-0 and move into sole possession of the conference lead, with the game turning on defense, special teams-style momentum and a ground attack that kept the Sun Devils off balance all afternoon.
Linebacker Ben Roberts set the tone with a pick-six, JKoby Williams broke the game open with two long touchdown runs, and the defense finished with six sacks in one of its most disruptive outings of the season. Will Hammond did his part too, completing 18 of 26 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown, giving Texas Tech the kind of balanced win that looks less like a hot streak and more like a program making a real statement. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Techs Arizona State Rematch Comes With A New Offensive Twist
The No. 10 Red Raiders head into Homecoming with Arizona State carrying a little more uncertainty on offense than they did a week ago. Texas Tech will be without running back Cameron Dickey because of an ankle sprain, which puts the spotlight on the rest of the backfield to absorb the workload in a game that already has plenty of attention attached to it.
Thomas Castellanos adds another layer to the matchup after being ruled eligible to play, giving Texas Tech an additional option as it prepares for a rematch that will be shown on FOX. For a team trying to keep its rhythm in front of a home crowd, the question now is how the offense adjusts without Dickey and how much the new wrinkle at quarterback changes the picture. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Showed Off A Depth Battle Fans Will Be Watching Closely
TCU wrapped up its preseason slate with an 89-76 exhibition win over Wyoming, and for Texas Tech fans keeping an eye on the Big 12 landscape, the Horned Frogs offered an early look at just how much depth they may have this season. Brock Harding scored 16 points, Gavin Sykes led the way with 17, and Micah Robinson added 15 as TCU mixed and matched pieces while showing off potential starting lineups ahead of the regular season.
The exhibition also put the spotlight on the transfers who will help shape the rotation once the games count, and that should be a familiar kind of storyline for any team trying to sort out its own front-court and back-court balance in league play. With Lindenwood up next in the opener, TCU still has some lineup decisions to settle, but the pieces are clearly there for a team that could make its depth part of the conversation early. [Read more 🡒]