Texas Tech has made the cleanest case in the state so far.
At 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play, the Red Raiders are one of just nine unbeaten teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. They’re also sitting inside the national top 10, with Texas Tech checking in at No. 10 in the AP Poll and No. 9 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. For Week 7, that combination is enough to put them at the front of the Texas pack.
The simplest argument is also the strongest: Texas Tech hasn’t lost. In a season that has already given the Red Raiders a road win at Oregon State, a statement home victory over then-ranked Houston, and a convincing 29-7 win at Colorado, they’ve done what every contender is supposed to do - take care of business and do it against teams that have given the résumé some weight.
That unbeaten start matters more than anything else in these early-state rankings. Being perfect at 5-0 is the kind of edge that separates a team from the rest of the Texas field, especially when those wins include a tough trip to Oregon State and a road result in Boulder. Those are the kind of games that show up well in the eyes of both voters and the numbers.
And the numbers have liked Texas Tech, too. The Red Raiders’ steady climb into the top 10 has been backed by the kind of week-to-week consistency that gets noticed nationally. Human polls can lean on reputation, but Texas Tech’s profile has been built on results.
That’s why, on paper, the Red Raiders sit ahead of Texas, which is 4-1. The Longhorns do have the more eye-catching win over Ohio State, but that came at home.
Their other victories - against Texas State and UTSA - don’t stack up the same way against Texas Tech’s wins over Colorado and Oregon State. Texas’ road win at Tennessee is another point in its favor, but the Volunteers needed to grind through close games against Auburn and Arkansas, teams that are 5-6 combined.
Texas also has the blemish of a loss to Oklahoma, and the Sooners had already lost to Michigan before falling to Georgia by four touchdowns. That matters in a comparison like this one, especially when Texas Tech is still unbeaten.
There’s also the road factor. Texas has just one road win.
Texas Tech has two. In a close early-season debate, that kind of detail helps tilt the conversation.
Advanced metrics have backed up the Red Raiders’ standing as well. Systems like ESPN’s SP+ and Football Power Index judge teams by efficiency, explosiveness and opponent-adjusted performance rather than just raw record, and Texas Tech has landed firmly inside or near the national upper tier. That strengthens the argument that this isn’t just a pretty record - it’s a team performing at a high level.
So while the top spot in Texas could shift from week to week, depending on what happens next, the case entering Week 7 is straightforward: Texas Tech is undefeated, battle-tested, and ranked in the national top 10. On paper, that puts the Red Raiders at No. 1 in the state.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Fans Will Love This Shot At The Longhorns
Texas Tech kept its unbeaten start rolling with a 29-7 win over Colorado on Oct. 3, moving to 5-0 and giving Red Raiders fans another reason to enjoy the early-season picture. While Texas Tech stayed perfect, Texas took a hit in the Red River Shootout, falling to Oklahoma and slipping to 4-1, a result that has only added more noise around the Longhorns as the season moves deeper into October.
Steve Sarkisian spent part of his latest press conference defending quarterback Arch Manning and stressing that football problems rarely belong to one player alone, especially at a program where expectations are always high. Texas now turns its attention to Florida, but for Tech supporters, the bigger storyline is simple: their team keeps winning while the Longhorns are left trying to settle things down after a loss that landed right in the middle of rivalry season. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Has A Real Reason To Root Hard For BYU
BYUs trip to Notre Dame carries more weight than a typical non-conference date, and for Texas Tech, it is the kind of game worth watching closely from afar. The Cougars are scheduled to meet the Irish in a matchup with College Football Playoff implications that extend beyond Provo, because a BYU win would strengthen the Big 12s case for getting multiple teams into the field and give the league another high-profile result to point to.
The Cougars will have to try to pull it off without running back L.J. Martin, who is out with an injury, and ESPNs Matchup Predictor gives BYU just a 21.8 percent chance to win. Still, this is the sort of outcome Tech fans can appreciate even without a direct stake in the game, since any boost to the Big 12s playoff profile can help every contender in the leagues crowded race. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Has A Real Edge In A Revenge Spot Vs ASU
Texas Tech gets a chance to circle back on the one Big 12 blemish in its 2025 ledger when Arizona State comes to town, and it is the kind of matchup that tends to sharpen focus on both sides of the ball. The Red Raiders have already shown they can make life difficult on opponents with a defense that has been coming up with turnovers, which matters in a game where field position and hidden possessions can tilt the night quickly.
Arizona State has had trouble separating itself from major-conference teams and the broader numbers point to some stress points, especially in turnover margin and tackles for loss. For Texas Tech, the appeal is obvious: a revenge spot, a home conference test, and a chance to prove the first meeting was not a fair reflection of where this team stands now. [Read more 🡒]