By Chris Coopersmith

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech is at No. 25 in the Associated Press Top 25 and USA TODAY Coaches Poll, entering the national rankings for the first time this season and first in the Grant McCasland era.

The Red Raiders (14-2, 3-0 Big 12) are on a nine-game winning streak that includes starting Big 12 play with wins over Texas, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State. Tech plays at No. 5 Houston at 8 p.m. on Wednesday before hosting No. 20 BYU at 5 p.m. on Saturday at United Supermarkets Arena in this week’s games.

Tech’s ranking comes in the 11th poll of the season after it received 62 votes last week. The votes received last week were the first time this season the team received a vote following its road win at then-No. 20 Texas. The Longhorns fell out of the rankings this week, while eight Big 12 teams are ranked.

Tech’s nine-game winning streak is the longest for the program since the 2018-19 team started the season on a 10-game winning streak and then had a nine-game winning streak in conference play. The 3-0 start in Big 12 play is the best start since that season and also the 2004 conference campaign.

The Red Raiders were at No. 25 to begin last season following advancing to the 2022 NCAA Sweet 16 and rose as high as No. 21 before falling out and not returning after three polls. Tech’s highest AP ranking in program history came at No. 6 in February of 2018 (16th Week Poll) and the 2018-19 team was No. 8 in the final week of the regular season and No. 7 throughout the postseason that led to the 2019 National Championship Final.

COURTESY TEXAS TECH ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS