{
  "id": 10047159,
  "title": "Texas Tech football fans shouldn't make reservations for the CFP | Giese",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/texas-tech-football-fans-shouldnt-make-reservations-for-the-cfp-giese",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T19:32:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/texas-tech-football-fans-shouldnt-193200241.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Texas Tech football fans should not make reservations for the College Football Playoffs or the Big 12 Conference championship game, according to the team's performance thus far. The Red Raiders are currently ranked 10th in the nation and have a 4-0 record after a 49-14 victory over Sam Houston. However, it is crucial not to make grand predictions based on a single game. Realistic analysis suggests that the team's issues extend beyond one game. The offense struggled in the first half, with Will Hammond connecting more with the opposing team (three completions) than his own (seven). The defense relied on Austin Romaine's pick-6s to compensate for the offensive struggles. Kenny Johnson's athleticism and Micah Hudson's performance were scrutinized. Quinten Joyner needed improvement, and Cameron Dickey and J Koby Williams should see more playing time. The pass rush was weak, posing a problem for mobile quarterbacks. Texas Tech's slow start in games could be a significant issue against stronger opponents. The team might still qualify for the playoffs, but their success against top-tier teams remains uncertain. With an open date approaching after the Colorado game, there is potential for improvement and resolution of the current challenges. However, at this stage, the focus may shift to other sports in the upcoming months.",
  "summary": "There's still time, but nothing this version of the Texas Tech football team has shown says CFP. It may not even make the Big 12 title game at this rate.",
  "key_points": [
    "Texas Tech ranked 10th nationally with a 4-0 record.",
    "Offense struggled in first half, defense relied on pick-6s.",
    "Team's success against top-tier opponents uncertain."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Double pick-6s: Texas Tech LB Austin Romaine returns 2 interceptions for TDs on consecutive passes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/double-pick-6s-texas-tech-lb-austin-romaine-returns-2-interceptions",
        "published": "2026-09-26T17:20:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}