The first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2025 season are set to release Tuesday, Nov. 4, and there’s some question to where Texas Tech football will land.
Much of the debate stems from how the selection committee will view the Big 12 Conference, which has both Texas Tech and BYU in the top 10 of the national polls. The teams will play each other Saturday, Nov. 8, to help decide some of that. For now, it’s all about perception.
The 12-team CFP field will go to a straight seeding model this year, the top four teams in the final rankings getting byes into the quarterfinals. The Big 12, SEC, ACC and Big Ten will all get at least one team to automatically qualify based on conference championship game results, and the Group of 6 conferences are ensured a bid as well. The final seven spots go to at-large teams.
There’s a ton at stake for Texas Tech the rest of the way, but here’s a look at where pundits have the Red Raiders projected this week before the CFP committee has their say.
The Athletic: 8 seed in College Football Playoff
Scott Dochterman of The Athletic’s most recent projections have a familiar setup for Texas Tech: hosting 9 seed BYU in the first round of the College Football Playoff. This, of course, is the same game taking place this week in Lubbock, so the odds of the exact matchup happening against in seven weeks feels unlikely.
ESPN: 9 seed in College Football Playoff
Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are in agreement with Dochterman, and each other. The difference is the ESPN duo have Texas Tech as the 9 seed, and visiting 8 seed BYU in the first round of the CFP. Again, unlikely it unfolds this way and very possible only one of Texas Tech or BYU wind up in next week’s CFP projections following Saturday’s game.
CBS Sports: Pop-Tarts Bowl
Brad Crawford of CBS Sports only has one Big 12 team in his CFP projections, and it isn’t Texas Tech. Crawford has the Red Raiders going to the Pop-Tarts Bowl to take on Virginia while he has BYU as the 7 seed in the CFP.
Bleacher Report: 8 seed in College Football Playoff
Joe Tansey over at Bleacher Report also limited his CFP bracket to one Big 12 team but it’s the Red Raiders who get the nod here, putting Texas Tech as the No. 8 seed and hosting Notre Dame in the first round.
Sports Illustrated: 8 seed in College Football Playoff
Another 8 seed in the CFP projection comes from Bryan Fischer at Sports Illustrated, who also has Texas Tech playing host to 9 seed Notre Dame. The winner would go on to play top-seeded Ohio State in the quarterfinals.
On3: 6 seed in College Football Playoff
Chalk On3’s Brett McMurphy up as another who has Texas Tech facing Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff. This one is a bit different, though, as McMurphy has the Red Raiders as the No. 6 seed and the Fighting Irish the No. 11 seed. Going a step further, McMurphy has Texas Tech winning and going on to face No. 3 Indiana in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington in the quarterfinals.
2025 College Football Playoff Schedule
FIRST ROUND: Friday, Dec. 19 and Saturday, Dec. 20 at higher-seeded school
QUARTERFINALS: Wednesday, Dec. 31: Cotton Bowl (Dallas), 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 1: Orange Bowl (Miami), 11 a.m.; Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California), 3 p.m.; Sugar Bowl (New Orleans), 7 p.m.
SEMIFINALS: Thursday, Jan. 8: Fiesta Bowl (Phoenix), 6:30 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 9: Peach Bowl (Atlanta), 6:30 p.m.
FINALS: Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), 6:30 p.m.
2025 College Football Playoff Bracket
FIRST ROUND: No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 8 vs. No. 9, No. 6 vs. No. 11, No. 7 vs. No. 10
QUARTERFINALS: No. 4 vs. winner of No. 5/No. 12; No. 1 vs. winner of No. 8/No. 9; No. 3 vs. No. 6/No. 11; No. 2 vs. No. 7/No. 10
SEMIFINALS: No. 4/5/12 vs. No. 1/8/9; No. 3/6/11 vs. No. 2/7/10
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Where is Texas Tech in College Football Playoff projections ahead of first rankings?
Reporting by Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
