Texas Tech’s hopes of repeating as Big 12 champions and making a College Football Playoff run took a massive hit Saturday. They went into their road game against 4-2 Cincinnati as 10.5-point favorites, but somehow dropped a 37-24 loss. This was their first loss of the season, but losing to an unranked Bearcat team is going to sting their CFP resumé big time.
What Went Wrong in Cincinnati?
The Red Raiders offense was just… absent all day long. They couldn’t find the end zone until the third quarter, settling for field goals most of the way. Meanwhile, that defense gave up 24 points in the first half alone, putting them in a 24-6 hole by halftime. Will Hammond and the Tech offense couldn’t get anything going on third down, converting only 3-of-15 tries. And can we talk about the penalties? Thirteen penalties for 85 yards. You’re not going to beat anyone with that kind of sloppy play, let alone a team you’re supposed to dominate.
The Uphill Climb Ahead
So, where does this leave Tech for the rest of the season? Their remaining schedule isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s not a murderer’s row either. They’ve got No. 25 Arizona at home next week on October 31. Then it’s WVU at home on November 7, a road trip to Baylor on November 21, and then TCU at home on November 26. Two of those remaining conference opponents, WVU and TCU, are actually below-.500 in the Big 12. The toughest test beyond Arizona is probably Oklahoma State, who are 4-2 and already pulled off a signature upset over Oregon this season. Baylor on the road won’t be easy either.
If Tech manages to win out, they’d likely be okay for a CFP bid, and a Big 12 title game appearance could still be on the table, depending on how BYU and Utah perform. But if they drop another game, especially to an unranked squad? Things get dicey real fast. Utah and BYU are hot, with the Cougars even boasting a signature win over Notre Dame. The CFP selection committee might not put in a two-loss Texas Tech if there are already three Big 12 teams in play, especially with so many teams battling in the Big Ten and SEC for those 12 spots. DraftKings has their CFP odds at +290, which is even slightly worse than the Florida Gators at +280. That’s a grim sign, folks.
The Red Raiders have to regroup, and fast. Their next challenge is at home against No. 25 Arizona on October 31. This isn’t just another game; it’s a must-win if they want to keep any College Football Playoff dreams alive. Every snap from here on out is under a microscope, because the margin for error is basically gone.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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