Cincinnati defeats Texas Tech 37-24, narrowing Red Raiders' playoff hopes

Cincinnati secured a 37-24 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday, extending its lead in the game after holding a two-score advantage for more than half the contest. The Bearcats ran out the clock with two kneel-downs, and fans celebrated the win over the No. 8 ranked Red Raiders.

Billionaire booster Cody Campbell, who chairs Texas Tech’s Board of Regents, posted on X after the game, "There is no excuse or reason to lose a game like this. We have to be better." Campbell was not present at the stadium.

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire described the performance as "bad football" and expressed frustration, saying, "We played about as bad as we could play. I can’t think of a game that was as frustrating as what I was just a part of."

Statistically, Cincinnati’s defense allowed 252 rushing yards and 37 points, the most the Red Raiders have yielded since the 2024 Liberty Bowl. Texas Tech converted three of 15 third-down attempts, turned the ball over three times and incurred 12 penalties for 80 yards. Quarterback Will Hammond, who was expected to assume a larger role after the ineligibility of Brendan Sorsby, completed limited passes and did not score a touchdown.

The loss complicates Texas Tech’s path to the College Football Playoff. The team must win its remaining games to finish 12-1 and improve its chances of receiving an at-large bid, as it no longer has ranked opponents left on its schedule.