Red Raiders Secure Highest Ranking Since 2013 Following 34–10 Win

Texas Tech vaulted to No. 12 in the most recent Associated Press poll for college football released Sunday, climbing five spots after a commanding 34–10 victory against Utah, the program’s first top-25 win since 2008.

Saturday night's win over Utah at Texas Tech was more than just another early-season win. The Red Raiders (4-0) beat a ranked opponent for the first time in 16 years, which put them in an exceptional spot in both national lists. Tech moved up to No. 12 in the Associated Press poll, its best spot since 2013. The USA Today Coaches Poll put the team at No. 14.

The way Texas Tech beat the Utah Vandals impressed pollsters, not just the fact that they won by a large score. In the second half, starting quarterback Behren Morton left the game. However, backup quarterback Will Hammond kept the offense moving well. 

The Red Raiders gained more than 150 yards over Utah and forced three mistakes, making it one of the most lopsided games between ranked teams this weekend.

Head coach Joey McGuire told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal after the game, "This is the kind of win that shows what our program is building toward." "We have depth, we have toughness, and we have guys who are ready to assist when needed."

This was Tech's highest ranking since 2013, when coach Kliff Kingsbury led his team from 7-0 to No. 10. That team ultimately fell apart in the end, but the Red Raiders have a week off before they head to Houston on Oct. 4 and have a chance to keep up their momentum.

There were also other significant changes in the national polls. Miami moved ahead of LSU and Penn State to No. 2 after beating Florida by 19 points, and Indiana jumped eight spots to No. 11 after beating Illinois 63–7. Oklahoma, on the other hand, made it back to the top 10 for the first time since 2023.

This week, Texas Tech had the second-biggest jump, with a five-spot rise. The Red Raiders' rise is a sign of a larger trend this early in the season: teams that beat ranked opponents in big games are doing very well in the polls.

Tech is in the best position it has been in for 12 years, but its next few games could reveal whether it can compete in the Big 12 and beyond. 

Oklahoma State and Texas, two teams in the same conference, are in the best position in the same conference and are scheduled to play on Oct. 4, marking the first game in a crucial stretch.