The first rankings of the college football season are here, with Texas Tech hitting No. 12 in the preseason Coaches Poll.
LUBBOCK -- Just around a month separates Texas Tech from the start of arguably its most anticipated season in program history.
And the Red Raiders got a glimpse of how some around the nation are viewing their latest squad.
In the first poll release of the season, the USA Today Coaches Poll put together the list of the best 25 teams in college football ahead of kickoff.
Texas Tech saw its name slot in at No. 12 in the initial top 25 from various coaches, which is the second highest preseason ranking in program history.
The lone time the Red Raiders hit above the mark came in the preseason Associated Press Poll ahead of the 1977 campaign, when voters crowned Texas Tech at No. 8.
It is also the peak of their preseason appearances in the coaches poll, with the previous top spot being No. 14 before their legendary season in 2008.
Four teams made up the representation from the Big 12, as the defending champion Red Raiders led the pack in their 12th-place position.
The team Texas Tech took down in the title game, BYU, begins its march back to Arlington and possibly beyond at No. 15.
Utah came in at No. 21 after only dropping to Texas Tech and BYU a year ago, but it also lost longtime staple head coach Kyle Whittingham to Michigan in the offseason.
Finally, Houston returned to the rankings at No. 24 following a resurgence last year under head coach Willie Fritz that saw the Cougars win 10 games.
While Texas Tech reached historic heights with the ranking, is it too low for a squad with high expectations for the incoming year?
During their incredible run, the Red Raiders' ranking peaked at No. 7 in the AP poll and all the way at No. 4 in the official CFP rankings. This included a regular season loss to Arizona State.
With a much easier schedule, at least on paper, and talent still permeating through all levels of the roster, Texas Tech could very much exceed the accomplishments from the season prior.
There is still uncertainty for the Red Raiders from those outside Lubbock, especially when it comes to the quarterback situation, and it appears that those in charge will make them earn any respect that comes their way.
Ultimately, preseason rankings mean very little in the grand scheme of things, and that fact was made abundantly clear as recently as last year, and Texas Tech undoubtedly has grander visions in mind than a number next to its name before any games have taken place.
