Cincinnati Upset Over Texas Tech Shakes Up Big 12 Playoff Race

Cincinnati defeated eighth-ranked Texas Tech 37-24 on Saturday, handing the Red Raiders their first loss of the season and putting the Big 12's hopes of landing three teams in the College Football Playoff in jeopardy.

Game Details

JC French threw four touchdown passes and Cole Tabb ran for a career-high 173 yards to help the Bearcats break a two-game losing streak. Texas Tech struggled in the passing game and committed three turnovers, falling behind after a 21-point push by Cincinnati in the second quarter. The victory marked only the second ranked win for Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield in four seasons. The matchup carried extra meaning for the Bearcats because former quarterback Brendan Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech in the offseason before parting ways with the team in June following a gambling investigation.

Conference Outlook

With Texas Tech dropping to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, Will Hammond and the Red Raiders likely need to win all their remaining games, including a matchup against Arizona, to stay in the hunt for a conference title and an automatic playoff berth. Meanwhile, second-ranked BYU sits at the top of the standings alongside other top-25 contenders like tenth-ranked Utah and fourteenth-ranked Houston as the conference race enters its second half.

Context

The College Football Playoff uses a selection committee to choose and rank teams for the postseason bracket, factoring in overall records and strength of schedule. Conference champions often secure automatic bids, making late-season games crucial for determining which programs advance to the national championship tournament.