ESPN analyst Greg McElroy didn’t hold back when discussing the latest College Football Playoff rankings. On Tuesday, he said that the Texas Tech Red Raiders are not where they belong. McElroy argued that Texas Tech should be locked in as a top‑four seed, good enough to earn one of the coveted bye weeks, and not somewhere further down the line.
“I think Texas Tech should have a chance at one of those top spots,” McElroy said during his segment. “They’re just too good to be this low.” He pointed toward the Red Raiders’ resume, their consistency in the Big 12, and their strong position in the playoff conversation as evidence that the selection committee undersold them.
McElroy’s comments reflect growing frustration among college football observers about how the playoff picture is evolving. The committee has placed emphasis on the strength of the schedule and big‑win moments. But McElroy believes Texas Tech has done enough to earn a shot at the top tier. He suggested that the Red Raiders’ body of work sets them apart from teams traditionally slotted above them, and that by missing a top‑four designation, the program is being punished for perception rather than performance.
For Texas Tech, this endorsement is a big deal. Getting public support from a national voice like McElroy shines a light on what the program has built under coach Joey McGuire. The Red Raiders have gone from talking about sneaking into consideration to demanding respect. McElroy is essentially agreeing with that shift.
This kind of spotlight also raises the stakes for the rest of the season. If Texas Tech believes it belongs in the top four, then every remaining game becomes more than just a check mark; it’s proof that they should be treated that way. The landscape of the Big 12 is changing, and the national narrative is starting to align. Whether the selection committee adjusts accordingly remains to be seen.
McElroy’s message is simple: Texas Tech has earned the right to be considered among the elite. If the committee wants to discount that, they’ll have to answer for it.
