Texas Tech football continues to be recognized as a team coming into 2026 with playoff expectations.
On3 released its Preseason Top 25 (subscription required) ahead of the 2026 college football season, and the Red Raiders check in at No. 11, a popular preseason spot for Joey McGuire’s squad. Texas Tech checks in ahead of blue-blood names like the Alabama Crimson Tide, Michigan Wolverines, and LSU Tigers.
It’s the kind of ranking that reflects where the program sits after a strong offseason. Texas Tech landing inside the top 15 signals that the Red Raiders are no longer a team sneaking up on anyone. The Red Raiders enter the season with real national expectations.
The Ohio State Buckeyes the full list at No. 1, followed by the Oregon Ducks and Texas Longhorns to round out the top three. Georgia and Notre Dame close out the top five, and the top 10 features Indiana Hoosiers, Miami Hurricanes, Oklahoma Sooners, Ole Miss Rebels, and Texas A&M Aggies.
For a program that has spent years fighting for national relevance in a crowded Big 12, cracking the top 15 in another nationally recognized poll is a further indication of where this program has grown in such a short time.
It’s also an indicator of the pressure that Texas Tech faces. Preseason rankings are built on offseason buzz. Texas Tech checking in at No. 11 means the rest of the country is watching. With the Red Raiders’ non-conference schedule lacking real competetion, there’s zero room for a slow start.
Rankings this early in the year are far from predictive. Plenty of teams outside the top 25 in August end up playing in January. There are also teams annually that crack the top-15 in the preseason that fade by the end of October.
But for Red Raiders fans, seeing Texas Tech ranked ahead of Alabama and Michigan before a single snap has been played is a moment worth enjoying. Now it’s on the team to prove the ranking right.
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This article originally appeared on Red Raiders Wire: Texas Tech cracks the top 15 in On3’s 2026 preseason Top 25
Reporting by Andrew McCleary, Red Raiders Wire / Red Raiders Wire
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By Andrew McCleary, Red Raiders Wire | USA TODAY Network
