Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders earn highest final ranking in school history
January 20, 2026 | Football
Texas Tech was ranked at No. 7 Tuesday in the final Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech's historic season earned the Red Raiders their highest final ranking in school history Tuesday after coming in at No. 7 in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls.
Texas Tech had not ended a season inside the top 10 of either poll until this season, continuing the list of accolades for the Red Raiders, who secured their first Big 12 title and won a school record 12 games en route to an appearance in the College Football Playoff. The Red Raiders previously closed the 1938 and 1973 campaigns as high as No. 11 in the polls, which marked the highest finish in school history until this season.
Indiana was the top-ranked team in both polls after the Hoosiers captured their first National Championship with a win over Miami on Monday night in the College Football Playoff finale. The Hurricanes were No. 2 in both polls followed by Ole Miss, Oregon, Ohio State and Georgia ahead of the Red Raiders. Georgia and Ohio State flipped positions in the coaches poll with the Bulldogs at No. 5 and the Buckeyes at No. 6.
The Big 12 Conference had five teams represented in the final AP poll as BYU was No. 11 followed by Utah at No. 14, Houston at No. 22 and TCU at No. 25. The Red Raiders were a combined 4-0 against those four teams this year, with the lone school not to appear on Texas Tech's schedule being the Horned Frogs. TCU fell just outside the top 25 in the coaches poll as BYU was No. 12 , while Utah remained at No. 14 and Houston was up three spots at No. 19 overall.
In addition to the unveil of the final top-25 polls, prognosticators are already looking ahead to the 2026 season, placing the Red Raiders in the top 10 of several "way too early" polls. FOX has the Red Raiders as high as No. 4 in its poll, with ESPN, On3 and CBS Sports all picking Texas Tech at No. 7 in their respective rankings.
Fans won't have to wait long to look ahead as Texas Tech's 2026 football schedule will be unveiled by the Big 12 office Wednesday. Texas Tech will unveil its entire schedule on its social media channels as well as via TexasTech.com.
