On Tuesday, the College Football Playoff selection committee bumped Texas Tech to No. 4 before the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday.
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The Red Raiders made a statement in Arlington, Texas, earning their first-ever Big 12 championship in a 34-7 rout of No. 11 BYU in front of 85,519 fans at AT&T Stadium.
TTU’s defense led the charge, creating four turnovers and not allowing the Cougars offense to score a point after their opening 14-play, 90-yard drive.
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Before the game, TTU appeared to be on the bubble of earning a first-round bye in the CFP. Following Saturday’s win, the Red Raiders should be a lock as a top four team.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire told reporters after the game that the team has some injuries to worry about, and believes the Red Raiders can heal their bumps and bruises with some extra time off before the CFP quarterfinals.
“We’re football banged up, and if you let us get healthy, man, I really believe we’ve got another gear,” McGuire said, via Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
Per the Big 12 player availability report, TTU ruled out four players for the conference championship: Defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard, cornerback Maurion Horn, wide receiver T.J. West and wide receiver Roy Alexander.
Texas Tech’s 27-point win over BYU could boost the program’s chances for the CFP when the final rankings are revealed on Sunday. No. 1 Ohio State is set to play No. 2 Indiana on Saturday night in the Big Ten Championship Game, and the Red Raiders could eclipse the loser of that contest.
TTU will enter the CFP with a 12-1 overall record. However, the selection committee must take into consideration that Texas Tech’s lone loss of the season (a 26-22 defeat to Arizona State) came when starting quarterback Behren Morton was sidelined with a knee injury.
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