LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Following its 48-9 win over UCF, Texas Tech (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) has climbed two spots to sixth on this week’s AP Poll. Tech is tied with Oregon for sixth in the latest AP Poll.
Tech is ranked seventh, up one spot in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
Last week Tech was ranked eighth in both the Coaches and AP Polls.
The Nov. 16 AP Poll: 1. Ohio State, 2. Indiana, 3. Texas A&M, 4. Georgia, 5. Ole Miss, 6. Texas Tech and Oregon, 8. Oklahoma, 9. Notre Dame, 10. Alabama.
Other Big 12 teams in the AP Top 25: 11. BYU, 13. Utah, 25. Houston.
The Nov. 16 Coaches Poll: 1. Ohio State, 2. Indiana, 3. Texas A&M, 4. Georgia, 5. Oregon, 6. Ole Miss, 7. Texas Tech, 8. Oklahoma, 9. Notre Dame, 10. Alabama
Other Big 12 teams in the Coaches Poll: 11. BYU, 14. Utah, 24. Houston.
Texas Tech defeated BYU 29-7 in Lubbock, Utah 34-10 in Salt Lake City, Houston 35-11 in Houston.
Planes form the United States Air Force fly over before an NCAA college football game between Texas Tech and Central Florida Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)(Justin Rex | AP)
The most important rankings come from the College Football Playoff committee; the next update will be released Tuesday evening. Last week the Red Raiders were ranked sixth in the CFP rankings, up from eighth in the initial rankings.
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) celebrates scoring an offensive touchdown against Central Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)(Justin Rex | AP)
Texas Tech Athletics highlighted why senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is a legitimate contender for the Heisman Trophy:
He led the Red Raiders with nine tackles and added a first-half interception in the rout over UCF. Rodriguez also added to the point total offensively, going from the Wildcat formation into the end zone for a 2-yard rushing touchdown to give Texas Tech a 14-0 lead with 9:29 remaining in the first quarter.
He recorded his fourth interception of the season late in the second quarter, further adding to his impressive season stat line as he now has 100 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and an FBS-leading seven forced fumbles.
He is the only player in the last 20 years (since 2005) to record at least 5 forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries all in the same season. His interception contributed to now 25 takeaways on the season for the Red Raiders (nine of which are his), who entered the weekend ranked third nationally.
Watch his postgame interview with FOX’s Josh Sims here.
Rodriguez discussed his offensive score here:
Coach McGuire discussed Rodriguez’ performance in the post-game news conference:
RELATED: No. 6 Texas Tech now 10-1, handles UCF 48-9
Texas Tech’s Masked Rider runs before during an NCAA college football game between Texas Tech and Central Florida Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)(Justin Rex | AP)
Here are some notes provided by Texas Tech Athletics Saturday evening:
Each of Texas Tech’s 10 wins this season have come by at least 20 points with the latest being today’s 48-9 victory over the Knights. Texas Tech is the only team in the FBS with at least 10 wins by 20 or more points as the next closest team entering this weekend was Utah with seven (game in progress). Texas Tech has won seven games during Big 12 play alone by that margin. In fact, Texas Tech has won each of its 10 victories by at least 22 points this season. Texas Tech is the first FBS team to win 10 or more regular-season games by that margin since Georgia in 2021. Other recent teams to win 10 or more regular-season games by 22 or more points include Ohio State (2019), Clemson (2019), Alabama (2018), Florida State (2013), Florida (2008), Boise State (2002) and Florida State (2000). The Red Raiders are now outscoring opponents by a plus-30.4 points per game margin this season, which is second in the FBS behind only Indiana (31.6). Texas Tech is now allowing only 12.3 points per game after holding its opponent to single digits for the second-consecutive week (defeated BYU, 29-7, last Saturday). Texas Tech entered this weekend as the Big 12 leader and ranked third in the FBS for scoring defense. Texas Tech created two takeaways in the win, giving the Red Raiders 25 now for the season and 10 in the last three games alone. Texas Tech came into today’s game ranked third in the FBS for turnovers gained. Tech is plus-8 in the turnover margin the last three games and is now plus-13 overall this season. Texas Tech limited UCF to only 52 rushing yards, continuing the Red Raiders’ dominance up front as the Red Raiders entered this weekend as the FBS leader in rushing defense. Texas Tech is now allowing only 71.8 yards per game on the ground. In addition to its defense, Texas Tech remains one of the highest-scoring offenses in the country as the Red Raiders are now averaging 42.6 points a game after today’s win. Texas Tech entered the weekend ranked fourth in the FBS for scoring offense.Texas Tech entered this weekend as the only FBS to rank in the top five in the FBS this season in scoring offense, scoring defense and takeaways per game. The Red Raiders, who are looking to become the first FBS program to do so since Florida in 2008, will likely stay in the top five of all three categories after this weekend. 
Central Florida quarterback Tayven Jackson (2) attempts to throw a pass while Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey (31) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)(Justin Rex | AP)David Bailey recorded one of Texas Tech’s four sacks in the win, pushing his season total to an FBS-leading 12.5 now. Bailey, who moved to fourth on the Texas Tech single-season chart in the process, has notched 10.0 of his 12.5 sacks during Big 12 play. 
Fans wave their shirts in the air during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Texas Tech and Central Florida Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)(Justin Rex | AP)Around the country
(AP) Georgia moved up one spot to No. 4 in The Associated Press poll Sunday, Oklahoma returned to the top 10 and North Texas, ranked for the first time since 1959, is among three Group of Five teams in the Top 25.
Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M were the top three teams for the fifth straight week. Georgia earned its highest ranking since the first week of September and Mississippi was back in the top five after spending three weeks there at midseason.
Oregon and Texas Tech were tied for No. 6, and Oklahoma rose three spots to No. 8 following its win at Alabama. The Sooners were last in the top 10, at No. 6, the second week of October.
Notre Dame remained No. 9 after a 22-point win at Pittsburgh and Alabama dropped six spots to No. 10 after the Sooners ended its eight-game win streak.
Ohio State, which rolled past UCLA to improve to 10-0 for the fourth time in seven seasons, received 57 of 66 first-place votes. Indiana, which beat Wisconsin to go 11-0 for the first time, got eight first-place votes. Texas A&M, whose comeback from a 27-point deficit to beat South Carolina was its largest ever, got one first-place vote, three less than last week.
Georgia’s 35-10 win over Texas was its sixth straight and second over a top-10 opponent. Mississippi, which lost at Georgia a month ago, defeated Florida and is more than 100 points behind the Bulldogs at No. 5.
The Group of Five hadn’t had three teams in the Top 25 since four appeared in last season’s final poll.
The Sun Belt Conference’s James Madison blew out Appalachian State and moved up three spots to No. 21. North Texas is next at No. 22. The Mean Green of the American Conference clobbered UAB 53-24 on the road and have matched their best start in program history.
The last time UNT was 9-1 was in 1959, when the team then known as the Eagles was ranked two straight weeks in November, reaching No. 16. That team lost to New Mexico State in the Sun Bowl to finish 9-2. This year’s UNT team already is eligible for a second straight bowl game and is in the thick of the race for the Group of Five’s automatic CFP bid.
In and out
— No. 22 North Texas’ first appearance in the poll in 66 years ends the longest drought by a Bowl Subdivision team.
— No. 23 Missouri returned after a one-week absence following a win over Mississippi State in which Ahmad Hardy became the first player since 2022 to rush for 300 yards.
— No. 24 Tulane has won two straight since losing to UTSA and is ranked for the first time this season.
— No. 25 Houston, fifth among teams also receiving votes last week and idle, were ranked for one week in October.
Louisville (19), Cincinnati (22), Pittsburgh (23) and South Florida (25) dropped out.
Poll points
— Voters did what the CFP selection committee did last week, jumping Miami over Georgia Tech to make the Hurricanes the highest-ranked Atlantic Coast Conference team. Miami easily beat North Carolina State and moved up two spots to No. 14. Georgia Tech, which needed a field goal in the final seconds to edge one-win Boston College, slipped a spot to No. 15.
— No. 13 Utah has outscored three opponents by a combined 153-49 since losing at BYU and has its highest ranking of the season.
— No. 17 Texas took the biggest plunge, dropping seven spots.
Conference call
SEC (9): Nos. 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17, 20, 23.
Big Ten (5): Nos. 1, 2, T-6, 16, 18.
Big 12 (4): Nos. T-6, 11, 13, 25.
ACC (3): Nos. 14, 15, 19.
American (2): Nos. 22, 24.
Sun Belt (1): No. 21.
Independent (1): No. 9.
Ranked vs. ranked
No. 16 Southern California (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten, No. 17 CFP) at No. 6 Oregon (9-1, 6-1, No. 8 CFP): Winner strengthens its position for a CFP at-large bid and keeps alive slim hopes of sneaking into the Big Ten championship game.
No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3 SEC) at No. 8 Oklahoma (8-2, 4-2, No. 11 CFP): Sooners did wonders for their playoff resume by knocking off Alabama on the road and now go for a fifth win over a Top 25 opponent.
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