Texas Tech’s reward for surviving a thriller against Houston was a climb in the AP poll, and the Red Raiders now sit at No. 11 after their 28-26 win Friday night at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock, TX.
The jump gives Texas Tech its highest ranking of the season. The Red Raiders opened the year at No. 12, then slipped a spot after what were described as a pair of unimpressive wins over Abilene Christian and at Oregon State.
But beating then-No. 22 Houston in the Big 12 opener on national television changed the conversation quickly.
Texas Tech is 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12 after the win, while Houston fell to 2-1 and dropped three spots to No. 25.
Other Big 12 teams in the AP top 25 include No. 9 BYU at 3-0 and No.
15 Utah at 3-0.
The win carried extra satisfaction for head coach Joey McGuire, especially with plenty of pundits picking Houston.
"Just keep picking against us, we love that stuff," said McGuire after the game. "We love being doubted. Just like Dana White said to the team, there's nothing better than being doubted, and I'm not going to quote exactly what he said because I'll get in trouble, but there's nothing like being doubted and coming back and winning a football game like that."
McGuire also pointed to the way his team is coming together as the season opens up, with several players stepping into bigger roles and others returning to the lineup.
"This team, we showed it last week, whenever we got down and played the last eight minutes, as crazy as it sounds, we're still finding ourselves, and we're finding guys that are going to step up," McGuire said. "And then we're also getting healthier.
Trey White being healthy tonight was huge. BJ Jordan being back was huge.
I thought our young safeties tackled really well, but they fight. These guys have a lot of confidence and man, it was good to see Will Hammond turn it loose tonight in a critical game with his feet."
Texas Tech now turns to the final game of its non-conference schedule against Sam Houston, which is 1-2 after a 59-0 win over Nicholls State last week. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock, TX, and the game will be televised on TNT.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Just Made An O-Line Change Fans Have Wanted
A day after Texas Tech found a little more life on the ground against Houston, the Red Raiders made a move fans had been calling for along the offensive line. Cash Cleveland has been named the starting left guard, taking over for Hunter Zambrano after his impactful showing helped steady a rushing attack that had been underperforming for much of the season.
For a team still looking to establish more balance on offense, the switch carries obvious weight heading into the matchup with Sam Houston. The hope in Lubbock is that Clevelands promotion gives the front five a better rhythm and helps the Red Raiders build on what they started to show last week, even if the real test is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Faces A Tough Terrance Carter Jr. Decision This Week
Terrance Carter Jr. is back in the conversation for Texas Tech just as the schedule starts to get more serious. The tight end made his season debut against Houston after missing the opening stretch with a foot injury, and his track record in past years has made him an important piece whenever hes available. Now the Red Raiders are trying to balance what he can give them against the risk of pushing him too soon.
For Week 4 against Sam Houston State, Carter is listed as a game-time decision, which leaves the staff with a familiar late-week dilemma. Texas Tech has to decide whether to use him now or protect him for the Big 12 games ahead, where his health could matter far more than a single nonconference matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Has An Offensive Question Fans Can't Ignore
Texas Tech left Houston with a 28-26 win, but the box score only told part of the story. The Red Raiders got enough offensively to survive a tight finish, and the film review points to a clear pattern: when J'Koby Williams and tight end Terrance Carter Jr. were involved, they made it count. Both were efficient with limited touches, giving Texas Tech reason to think its playmakers can do more if the offense finds a way to feature them earlier and more often.
Carters usage is especially worth watching because he was likely not at full health, which helps explain some of the restraint. Texas Tech also leaned on a different running back late while trying to protect the lead, a move that made sense in the moment but leaves the broader question intact for the next few weeks. If the Red Raiders want their offense to be more than just functional, they may need to decide which weapons are going to define it when the game is still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]