Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders hold steady at No. 5 in CFP rankings
November 25, 2025 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech remained at No. 5 in this week's College Football Playoff Rankings, announced by the selection committee via the ESPN College Football Playoff Top 25 show on Tuesday night. Tonight's announcement represented the fourth release of rankings, with one remaining next Tuesday before final selections are made on Sunday, Dec. 7, for the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Texas Tech, which observed an open date last weekend, improved to 10-1 and 7-1 in Big 12 play behind a 48-9 win versus UCF at home on Nov. 15 on Senior Day. The Red Raiders moved to No. 5 in the rankings on Nov. 18 and remain there this week, as did Ohio State at No. 1, Indiana at No. 2, Texas A&M at No. 3, and Georgia at No. 4, as the Top 5 stayed the same in the last two rankings releases.Â
The Red Raiders are currently positioned as the highest-ranked team among the 12 qualifying CFP teams that would play in the first round of the playoffs. That spot would place the Red Raiders in a home game against No. 12 Tulane – the highest-ranked Group of Five program – on either Dec. 19 or Dec. 20. Teams ranked Nos. 1-4 receive a bye into the quarterfinal round, which will be played at the Cotton Bowl (Dec. 31), Orange Bowl (Jan. 1), Rose Bowl (Jan. 1), or Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1).
With one game remaining on its regular-season schedule, Texas Tech travels to West Virginia this Saturday with a Big 12 Championship game berth at stake, as well as remaining in prime position to receive a bid for its first CFP appearance. Not only does a win keep the Red Raiders on track for all their goals aforementioned, but clinching its 11th win would match the single-season school record for wins and represent the fourth time in program history (1953, 1973, 2008).Â
Joining the Red Raiders from the Big 12 Conference in the CFP Top 25 in the fourth installment of rankings were four teams, including three that they played earlier this season, including BYU at No. 11 (W), Utah at No. 13 (W), and Arizona State at No. 20 (L). Arizona made its first appearance in the rankings at No. 25, a team that was not on the Red Raiders' schedule this fall.
The CFP selection committee meets in person each Monday and Tuesday before unveiling its rankings live on ESPN.
Upcoming CFP Rankings Release Dates (run of show)
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The CFP selection committee ranks the top 25 teams at the end of the regular season. The five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams will be seeded into a 12-team bracket based on the final ranking, with the four highest-ranked teams receiving a first-round bye. The teams ranked Nos. 5-12 will play in the CFP First Round, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds. The Playoff Quarterfinals and Playoff Semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.
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Texas Tech, which observed an open date last weekend, improved to 10-1 and 7-1 in Big 12 play behind a 48-9 win versus UCF at home on Nov. 15 on Senior Day. The Red Raiders moved to No. 5 in the rankings on Nov. 18 and remain there this week, as did Ohio State at No. 1, Indiana at No. 2, Texas A&M at No. 3, and Georgia at No. 4, as the Top 5 stayed the same in the last two rankings releases.Â
The Red Raiders are currently positioned as the highest-ranked team among the 12 qualifying CFP teams that would play in the first round of the playoffs. That spot would place the Red Raiders in a home game against No. 12 Tulane – the highest-ranked Group of Five program – on either Dec. 19 or Dec. 20. Teams ranked Nos. 1-4 receive a bye into the quarterfinal round, which will be played at the Cotton Bowl (Dec. 31), Orange Bowl (Jan. 1), Rose Bowl (Jan. 1), or Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1).
With one game remaining on its regular-season schedule, Texas Tech travels to West Virginia this Saturday with a Big 12 Championship game berth at stake, as well as remaining in prime position to receive a bid for its first CFP appearance. Not only does a win keep the Red Raiders on track for all their goals aforementioned, but clinching its 11th win would match the single-season school record for wins and represent the fourth time in program history (1953, 1973, 2008).Â
Joining the Red Raiders from the Big 12 Conference in the CFP Top 25 in the fourth installment of rankings were four teams, including three that they played earlier this season, including BYU at No. 11 (W), Utah at No. 13 (W), and Arizona State at No. 20 (L). Arizona made its first appearance in the rankings at No. 25, a team that was not on the Red Raiders' schedule this fall.
The CFP selection committee meets in person each Monday and Tuesday before unveiling its rankings live on ESPN.
Upcoming CFP Rankings Release Dates (run of show)
- Tuesday, Dec. 2: 6:00-6:30 p.m. CT
- Sunday, Dec. 7: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. CT
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The CFP selection committee ranks the top 25 teams at the end of the regular season. The five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams will be seeded into a 12-team bracket based on the final ranking, with the four highest-ranked teams receiving a first-round bye. The teams ranked Nos. 5-12 will play in the CFP First Round, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds. The Playoff Quarterfinals and Playoff Semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.
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