Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
Oct 9, 2026 12:02 PM
Texas Tech is undefeated at 5-0, but a challenging Big 12 schedule and questions about its playoff resume could determine whether the Red Raiders reach the CFP.
Texas Tech football has done everything asked of it through five games. The Red Raiders are undefeated, climbing the national rankings and emerging as legitimate contenders for the Big 12 championship.
But Texas Tech's College Football Playoff hopes could depend on much more than simply winning games.
The No. 11 Red Raiders (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) enter their October 10 bye week facing an intriguing question: Can Joey McGuire's team build a résumé strong enough to reach the 12-team playoff without winning the conference championship?
So far, the results are encouraging.
Texas Tech defeated Oregon State 35-24, survived Houston 28-26 and dominated Colorado 29-7. Those victories have established the Red Raiders as legitimate conference contenders, although questions remain about their strength of schedule.
And that's where things get complicated.
The Red Raiders won't face nationally ranked BYU or Utah during the regular season, eliminating two potential opportunities for marquee victories.
Instead, their remaining schedule includes home games against Arizona State, Arizona, West Virginia and TCU, along with road trips to Cincinnati, Oklahoma State and Baylor.
The Nov. 14 visit to Oklahoma State could prove particularly important, especially if the Cowboys remain in the Big 12 championship race.
Quarterback Will Hammond and the Texas Tech offense must also demonstrate greater consistency after turnover problems surfaced earlier this season.
Defensively, the Red Raiders have shown significant improvement, holding Colorado to just seven points in their latest victory.
Still, the margin for error is narrowing.
An 11-1 finish could put Texas Tech in an excellent position to reach the Big 12 Championship Game, scheduled for Dec. 4 in Arlington.
Winning that championship would guarantee the Red Raiders a College Football Playoff berth under the current format.
But finishing with one or two losses without a conference title would leave Tech competing for an at-large invitation against nationally ranked programs with potentially stronger schedules.
That's a dangerous position.
The playoff selection committee will release its first rankings on Nov. 3, offering the first meaningful indication of how Texas Tech's accomplishments stack up nationally.
For now, McGuire's team controls its path to an automatic berth.
The Red Raiders have established themselves as contenders. The next seven games will determine whether they're championship material.
Comments
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy