Red Raiders finish 2025 season with highest AP Poll ranking in program history
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No, Texas Tech's football program didn't quite finish where it wanted for 2025 following national championship aspirations built on hype gained from its transfer portal and recruiting haul.
That doesn't make the season any less important for coach Joey McGuire's team as they attempt to build off the best season in school history with a 13-2 record and playoff appearance.
The final AP Top 25 Poll was released Tuesday morning, following the College Football Playoff National Championship Game Monday night between Indiana and Miami. The Red Raiders checked in at No. 7 in the final ranking of the season, which makes it the highest finish in school history.
Tech's previous best finish came in 2008 after a historic 11-2 season with an appearance in the 2009 Cotton Bowl against Ole Miss.
This is Texas Tech’s first appearance in the final AP Poll since 2009 when the team finished No. 21 in the nation at the end of the season with a 9-4 overall record.
Indiana took home the hardware last night following a 27-21 victory over national runner-up Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Rounding out the top-five are Ole Miss, Oregon and Ohio State.
Final AP Top 25
1. Indiana
2. Miami
3. Ole Miss
4. Oregon
5. Ohio State
6. Georgia
7. Texas Tech
8. Texas A&M
9. Alabama
10. Notre Dame
11. BYU
12. Texas
13. Oklahoma
14. Utah
15. Vanderbilt
16. Virginia
17. Iowa
18. Tulane
19. James Madison
20. USC
21. Michigan
22. Houston
23. Navy
24. North Texas
25. TCU
Others receiving votes: Illinois 123, Washington 76, SMU 69, Duke 58, Arizona 54, Georgia Tech 44, Tennessee 10, Missouri 8, Louisville 7, Louisville 3, W. Michigan 2, Wake Forest 2, Hawaii 1, Boise St. 1.
What Lies Ahead for Tech?
Texas Tech will go into the 2026 season with the goal of winning a national championship once again. Offensive coordinator Mark Leftwich are set to bring in one of the best players in the transfer portal in Cinicinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby along with a solid supporting cast at receiver in Kenny Johnson (UCF), Malcolm Simmons (Auburn) and Jalen Jones (Alabama State).
As for the defense, the Red Raiders are expected to be a potent unit once again with the additon of Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine, San Diego State EDGE rusher Trey White, and Wake Forest defensive lineman Mateen Ibirogba out of the transfer portal.
Going into the offseason, Texas Tech is set to bring in the No. 14 ranked recruiting class in the nation combined with the No. 8 transfer portal haul, according to 247Sports.
The Red Raiders will kickoff the 2026 season at home against Abilene Christian on Sept. 5.
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Jacob is a contributor to Texas Tech and a seasoned journalist with over eight years of covering college football on digital platforms. He also contributes to Arkansas On SI and has previous writing experience at Saturday Down South and SB Nation. He is a graduate of Southern Arkansas University.
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