The 2025-26 college football season was a breakthrough year for Texas Tech - and the final Coaches Poll made it official. Joey McGuire’s Red Raiders didn’t just win the Big 12. They stamped themselves as the conference’s top dog in every meaningful metric, from the standings to the postseason, and now, in the eyes of coaches across the country.
Texas Tech landed at No. 7 in the final Coaches Poll, leading all Big 12 programs. It’s a fitting cap to a season that saw the Red Raiders not only claim the conference crown but also earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
That kind of success doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a reflection of a program that’s been building something real under McGuire - and now, the results are speaking for themselves.
This isn’t the first time Texas Tech has topped a set of rankings this postseason. They’ve already led the Big 12 in the final AP Poll and the ESPN Football Power Index. So while their No. 7 finish in the Coaches Poll isn’t exactly a surprise, it’s still a strong validation of what they accomplished on the field.
Behind the Red Raiders, three more Big 12 teams cracked the Top 25:
- BYU checked in at No. 12, just a spot lower than where they finished in the AP Poll.
- Utah followed closely at No. 14, holding steady in both major polls.
- Houston climbed to No. 19, a slight bump up from their AP ranking.
Those four teams represented the Big 12’s ranked contingent in the Coaches Poll. And while it's a solid showing, there’s a bit of a drop-off after that.
Arizona and TCU were both on the outside looking in, landing in the “others receiving votes” category. If the rankings extended a few more spots, they’d be slotted at No. 30 and No. 31, respectively - not quite where those programs hoped to be when the season kicked off.
Overall, the Big 12’s presence in the final Coaches Poll is respectable but leaves some room for growth. Four teams in the Top 25 is nothing to scoff at, especially with a playoff participant leading the way. But the lack of a fifth ranked team and the fringe placement of Arizona and TCU highlight the competitive gap that still exists between the conference’s top tier and its middle class.
For Texas Tech, though, this is a moment to savor. A conference title, a playoff appearance, and a top-10 finish in every major poll - that’s the kind of season that can shift the trajectory of a program. And if McGuire and his staff can build on this momentum, the Red Raiders might not just be the best in the Big 12 - they could be knocking on the door of national dominance.