Texas Tech climbed again in the AP Top 25 on Sunday, moving up to No. 11 after its Friday night win over No. 22 Houston in Lubbock.
The Red Raiders also rose in the Coaches Poll, where they landed at No. 10, two spots higher than a week ago. Texas Tech is 3-0 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 play, and its victory over Houston extended its home winning streak to 10 games. According to Tech Athletics, that’s the program’s longest run in Lubbock since it won 12 straight there from 2007 through 2009.
The first College Football Playoff rankings are set to come out Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Texas Tech’s next game is at home against Sam Houston at 11 a.m. Saturday.
At the top of the AP poll, Texas remained No. 1 for the second straight week after beating UTSA 30-6. Georgia stayed at No.
2, Notre Dame held No. 3, and Ole Miss jumped to No. 4 after edging LSU 32-24. Indiana rounded out the top five.
Miami was No. 6, followed by Ohio State, Alabama, BYU and LSU.
The Longhorns drew 58 of the 69 first-place votes from the AP media panel. Indiana picked up four, Georgia and Ole Miss had three each, and Miami got one.
The biggest rise in the poll belonged to Louisville, which moved up seven spots to No. 16 after beating SMU 41-31. SMU fell six places to No.
- Texas A&M took the steepest drop, sliding from No. 9 to No. 23 after losing 31-21 at home to unranked Kentucky.
Florida entered the rankings at No. 21 after a 44-39 road win over Auburn. Mississippi State also moved in, checking in at No. 24 after erasing a 16-point deficit to beat South Carolina 41-34. It’s the Bulldogs’ first appearance in the Top 25 since 2022.
Oklahoma fell out after a second straight uneven offensive showing in a 14-6 win over New Mexico. Virginia also dropped out after losing 38-27 to West Virginia.
The SEC now has 10 teams in the rankings: Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, Texas A&M and Mississippi State. The Big Ten has seven, the Big 12 four, the ACC three and Notre Dame is the lone independent.
A few other notes from the poll: Ohio State has now been ranked in 100 straight Top 25s, the third-longest active streak behind Alabama and Georgia. BYU is in the top 10 this early in a season for the first time since 2009.
And Mississippi State has its highest September ranking since Sept. 23, 2018.
This week’s ranked matchup slate includes Texas at Tennessee, Ole Miss at Florida, Iowa at Michigan, Missouri at Mississippi State, Oregon at USC and Texas A&M at LSU.
In Other News...
Micah Hudson's Slow Start Is Becoming A Real Texas Tech Concern
Texas Tech has been getting plenty of answers from Kenny Johnson at the X receiver spot, but the same cannot be said for the Z position. Through the early part of the 2026 season, the Red Raiders have gotten just six combined catches for 61 yards from the three players listed there, leaving a noticeable void in an offense that needs production across the board.
Micah Hudsons slow start is the biggest reason that spotlight has lingered. The junior and former five-star recruit has managed only three catches for 44 yards in three games, still searching for the kind of breakthrough season many expected when he arrived. For a Texas Tech passing game leaning on Johnson as its leading receiver, the question now is how long the Red Raiders can keep waiting for Hudson to turn promise into production. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Got An Early Answer On A Key Defensive Newcomer
Texas Tech got an encouraging first look at Trey White on Sept. 18, when the defensive newcomer made his debut after recovering from knee surgery just three weeks earlier. White wasted little time getting involved, finishing with two tackles and a sack in the victory against Houston, giving the Red Raiders an immediate glimpse of how he can fit into the rotation once he settles in.
White was part of a broader defensive reset in the game, with safety Brenden Jordan also making his season debut and transfers Jamond Mathis and Davin Martin logging their first starts. Jordan and linebacker Ben Roberts paced the defense with 10 tackles apiece, a sign that Texas Tech is still sorting out its pieces but may be finding answers in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Darrion Williams Just Gave Texas Tech Real Hope For Next Season
A McLennan County judge gave Darrion Williams and 30 other players a temporary reprieve this week, keeping them eligible to play while their lawsuit against the NCAA moves forward. For Texas Tech, that matters well beyond a single roster decision, because Williams now remains in the picture for the 2026-27 season while the legal process plays out.
The Red Raiders are also waiting on separate eligibility rulings for other players hoping to gain a fifth year, which leaves the staff in something of a holding pattern as it tries to plan ahead. Until those decisions are settled, Texas Tech can at least breathe a little easier knowing Williams is not immediately out of the mix, even if the bigger fight is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]