Joey McGuire and the Texas Tech Red Raiders have some work they need to do this season if they’re going to get some respect. Right now, the Texas Tech football team is ranked in the 2025 preseason AP Poll, but not very highly.
Right now, entering the 2025 college football season, the Red Raiders are No. 23 in the AP poll.
Which, you know, that’s nice (and it’s probably the right sort of ranking for Texas Tech right now), but it’d also be nice to see a Red Raider football team that is loaded with talent getting a bit more recognition heading into this season.
2025 preseason AP poll rankings
Here’s what the entire AP poll preseason rankings look like as we get closer and closer to the start of the 2025 season:
- Texas Longhorns
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Clemson Tigers
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Oregon Ducks
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- LSU Tigers
- Miami Hurricanes
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- South Carolina Gamecocks
- Michigan Wolverines
- Florida Gators
- SMU Mustangs
- Kansas State Wildcats
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Tennessee Vols
- Boise State Broncos
And I’ve got a few thoughts on that:
2025 preseason college football rankings: Texas Tech sits at No. 23 in the AP Poll and that’s actually fine
Looking at this objectively, I think the Red Raiders should probably be higher in these rankings. Taking a very deep and objective look at all of this, I also think a lot of folks are looking to Lubbock and are wanting to see a bit more evidence before they just put the Texas Tech football team as a highly ranked group this year.
I mean, it does kinda make some sense that people will want McGuire and Texas Tech to prove that they can compete at a high level. Do that and just about anyone will seriously consider them to be an improved team heading this season.
But with two coordinators who are new to the program and a head coach who has yet to breakthrough and a program that just simply doesn’t win at a high level all that often and it’s clear that Texas Tech isn’t going to get the benefit of the doubt on this one.
And that’s okay. There is still plenty of time for the Red Raiders to go out and get plenty of wins throughout this season. And if Texas Tech does that (and surpasses the sorts of expectations that others have placed on this program), then you’ll see the Red Raiders rise in a hurry.