Cincinnati beats Texas Tech, putting Big 12 playoff chances at risk
Cincinnati's 37-24 victory over Texas Tech ended the Red Raiders' nine-game conference winning streak and raised questions about the Big 12's ability to secure multiple College Football Playoff spots.
Cincinnati defeated eighth-ranked Texas Tech 37-24 on Saturday, ending the Red Raiders' nine-game Big 12 winning streak that stretched back to the previous season. The win, driven by four touchdown passes from quarterback JC French and a career-best 173 rushing yards by Cole Tabb, gave the Bearcats a signature victory after a two-game losing stretch.
The loss leaves Texas Tech with a 6-1 conference record and forces the team to win its remaining games, including a matchup with Arizona, to remain in contention for the Big 12 title and an automatic College Football Playoff berth.
The Big 12 now has five teams in the top 25 entering Week 8, with the upcoming primetime clash between 14th-ranked Houston and No. 10 Utah carrying significant implications for the league's playoff aspirations. BYU, currently unbeaten in conference play, remains the favorite, while Utah's strength of schedule is the lowest among the conference's ranked teams.
Analysts note that the conference's ability to avoid internal defeats in the final weeks will be crucial if it hopes to earn multiple playoff selections, especially as the selection committee places greater emphasis on conference strength metrics.