Texas Tech Red Raiders

0–0 · 0–0 BIG 12

Preseason

WEEK 8 · 2026

The Week 8 job

Beat Cincinnati and avoid turning a likely win into a season problem.

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

playoff chanceNow67%Win71%Loss43%

Texas Tech

Texas Tech 83%Cincinnati 17%

Cincinnati

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 1

Root for

Houston

at

Utah

Root for Houston3.8-point playoff boost

Houston winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

70% if Houston wins66% with the other result3.8-point differenceTexas Tech playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 2

Iowa State

at

Root for

Arizona

Root for Arizona1.7-point playoff boost

Arizona visits your schedule in week 9: keep them ranked.

67% if Arizona wins65% with the other result1.7-point differenceTexas Tech playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 3

Kansas State

at

Root for

Arizona State

Root for Arizona State2.6-point title-game boost

Big 12 race: Kansas State losing helps your spot in the standings.

79% if Arizona State wins77% with the other result2.6-point differenceTexas Tech Big 12 title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 4

Root for

Oklahoma

at

Mississippi State

Root for Oklahoma1.6-point playoff boost

Oklahoma winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

67% if Oklahoma wins66% with the other result1.6-point differenceTexas Tech playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 5

Oregon

at

Root for

Illinois

Root for Illinois2.7-point first-round-bye boost

You're close to a playoff lock: the live question is the top-4 seed and first-round bye, and Illinois winning protects it.

23% if Illinois wins20% with the other result2.7-point differenceTexas Tech first-round bye chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 6

Vanderbilt

at

Root for

Kentucky

Root for Kentucky1.4-point playoff boost

Kentucky winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

68% if Kentucky wins66% with the other result1.4-point differenceTexas Tech playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 7

USC

at

Root for

Wisconsin

Root for Wisconsin1.3-point playoff boost

Wisconsin winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

68% if Wisconsin wins66% with the other result1.3-point differenceTexas Tech playoff chance

46 more games that don't move your needle

BYU at UCF

Old Dominion at Louisiana Tech

Baylor at Kansas

Indiana at Michigan

Middle Tennessee at Florida International · CBSSN

Missouri State at Delaware · ESPNU

South Alabama at Marshall · ESPN2

Liberty at Kennesaw State · CBSSN

New Mexico State at Sam Houston · ESPN2

East Carolina at Memphis · ESPN2

James Madison at App State · ESPNU

Duke at Virginia · ESPN

NC State at Stanford · ESPN

Army at Tulsa · ESPN2

Texas A&M at Alabama

LSU at Auburn

Tennessee at South Carolina

Ole Miss at Texas

Colorado at Oklahoma State

West Virginia at TCU

California at SMU

Boston College at Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh at Miami

Syracuse at North Carolina

Virginia Tech at Clemson

Iowa at Minnesota

Rutgers at Northwestern

Michigan State at UCLA

San Diego State at Colorado State · The CW Network

Utah State at Texas State · CBSSN

Boise State at Washington State · USA Network

Massachusetts at UConn · CBSSN

Rice at Florida Atlantic

North Texas at Navy · CBSSN

UTSA at Tulane

Air Force at Wyoming · The CW Network

Hawai'i at Northern Illinois · MW+

San José State at Nevada · MW+

Akron at Kent State

Bowling Green at Buffalo

Eastern Michigan at Ohio

Western Michigan at Toledo

Miami (OH) at Central Michigan

Georgia State at Arkansas State

Louisiana at Southern Miss

UL Monroe at Troy

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 8, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.