The Texas Tech football team is coming off an open date and hits the midpoint of its regular season this weekend when the Red Raiders host Arizona State at Galaxy Stadium.
The Red Raiders, the preseason pick to win the Big 12 by a panel of USA TODAY Sports Network writers, are undefeated and ranked ninth in the US LBM Coaches Poll. They've not been as dominant through five games this season, however, as last season when all 12 of their victories were by more than 21 points.
It's time for our annual midseason ranking of Tech's remaining schedule by degree of difficulty. We gauge each opponent's stock relative to the preseason and rank the Red Raiders' chances of winning each game with 1 being the easiest assignment through 7 being the hardest.
Oct. 17 vs. Arizona State
Record/ranking in US LBM Coaches Poll: 3-2, 1-1 in the Big 12; unranked.
Sun Devils' stock: Down.
What to know: This game lacks the luster of last year's showdown in Tempe when Arizona State beat Tech in a matchup of the 2024 and 2025 Big 12 champions. The Sun Devils won 19 games the past two years and only once got spanked as badly as they already have this year by Texas A&M (48-20) and Baylor (55-19). With Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson gone, ASU's rebuilt around former Kentucky QB Cutter Boley (1,229 passing yards, 12 touchdowns) and WR transfers Reed Harris from Boston College (34-590-7) and Omarion Miller (31-312-2) from Colorado. Harris leads the Big 12 in receiving yards and TDs.
Rank: 3
Oct. 24 at Cincinnati
Record/ranking in US LBM Coaches Poll: 4-1, 1-1 in the Big 12; unranked
Bearcats' stock: Unchanged.
What to know: Brendan Sorsby returns to Cincinnati to face his old team! It was a grudge-match game until that plot line unraveled. Maybe we can interest you in another angle: Mentor against pupil with two defensive coordinators who go way back. Cincinnati DC Nate Woody and Tech DC Shiel Wood both played and coached for years at their alma mater, Wofford College. The 44-year-old Wood coached under the 65-year-old Woody at Wofford, Georgia Tech and Army and calls him "an unbelievable coach and mentor to me." Cincinnati hired Woody in January, and also tried to hire Tech co-DC Rob Greene, another Wofford ex.
Rank: 2
Oct. 31 vs. Arizona
Record/ranking in US LBM Coaches Poll: 5-1, 2-1 in the Big 12; receiving votes.
Wildcats' stock: Up
What to know: Compared to Texas Tech, BYU and Utah, Arizona seems to fly under the radar, but the Wildcats are 14-5 since the beginning of last season as third-year coach Brent Brennan quiets early critics. Since the start of 2025, fifth-year senior Noah Fifita has thrown for 4,984 yards, 45 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, bouncing back from a subpar 2024 season. There's a good chance the Wildcats roll into Lubbock bowl eligible with Fifita having reached 11,000 yards and 90 touchdowns in career passing.
Rank: 5
Nov. 7 vs. West Virginia
Record/ranking in US LBM Coaches Poll: 3-3, 0-3 in the Big 12; unranked.
Mountaineers' stock: Down
What to know: The Mountaineers lead the Big 12 in rushing offense by a whopping 57 yards per game, but they're giving up nearly 33 points per game, easily worst in the conference. That's how you get to be a .500 team but winless in conference. Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Arizona each topped 40 points in consecutive games against West Virginia. Even defensive coordinator Zac Alley called his unit "the worst defense in college football." However, the presence of RB Cam Cook and QB Michael Hawkins Jr. gives the Mountaineers a chance any Saturday. Cook leads the Big 12 with 793 rushing yards, and Hawkins' 672 yards and 12 rushing TDs rank third and first in the conference.
Rank: 1
Nov. 14 at Oklahoma State
Record/ranking in US LBM Coaches Poll: 4-1, 2-0 in the Big 12; No. 20
Cowboys' stock: Up
What to know: New coach Eric Morris took a big three with him from North Texas to Oklahoma State. One of the Big 12's most intriguing questions early was how impactful QB Drew Mestemaker, RB Caleb Hawkins and WR Wyatt Young would be at the Power Four level. The answer: Really impactful. Since laying an egg at Tulsa in the opener, the Cowboys have averaged 45 points in a four-game win streak that's included conquests of then-No. 6 Oregon and its first two Big 12 opponents.
Rank: 7
Nov. 21 at Baylor
Record/ranking in US LBM Coaches Poll: 4-1, 2-0 in the Big 12; receiving votes
Bears' stock: Up
What to know: Only a failed two-point conversion against Auburn keeps Baylor from being unbeaten. Go inside the numbers and it's no surprise the Bears have won four in a row. Their 18 sacks are tied for fifth in the FBS and, within the Big 12, they rank second in fewest touchdown passes allowed (3) and fourth in scoring defense (average yield, 14.2 points per game). Making it harder on opposing offenses, Palmer Williams has been flipping the field with an average of nearly 53 yards per punt. QB D.J. Lagway, who missed the second and third games with an ankle injury, threw for 306 yards and 4 TDs in a 55-19 rout of Arizona State.
Rank: 6
Nov. 26 vs. TCU
Record/ranking in US LBM Coaches Poll: 2-3, 0-2 in the Big 12; unranked
Horned Frogs' stock: Down
What to know: TCU has faced three Power Four opponents and lost to all three without giving up more than 21 points. Talk about demoralizing. The Horned Frogs boast the Big 12's second-stingiest scoring defense, allowing 13.4 points per game, but are next to last in scoring offense at 25.4. Still, even at home, it's hard to imagine Tech having an easy time of it. TCU has won five of the past six in the series, and the Horned Frogs had won four straight in Lubbock before Tech prevailed in 2023.
Rank: 4
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Ranking Texas Tech football's remaining 7 games by degree of difficulty
