See where Texas Tech football landed in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll
The Texas Tech football team will go into the season unranked in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll for the 15th year in a row, just barely.
The Red Raiders are among others receiving votes in the first ranking released Monday. They received 28 votes in the balloting of 63 sportswriters and sportscasters who cover college football. Tech's 101 points was most among other teams receiving votes.
Asked Saturday by The Avalanche-Journal about his expectations for how voters would regard his team, McGuire said, "It's a whole new year, but there's going to be some teams in the Top 25 that we beat. And so if they're in the Top 25, then I definitely think that we should be."
Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi, all of whom Texas Tech beat last season, are in the ranking at No. 11, No. 20 and No. 22, respectively.
"If we're in there, it's going to be awesome," McGuire said. "If we're not, then we're going to get in there and fight our butts off to keep climbing."
Tech's number of appearances in the The AP preseason poll remains at six. The Red Raiders began the year ranked No. 19 in 1954, No. 20 in 1973, No. 8 in 1977, No. 21 in 2005, No. 25 in 2006 and No. 12 in 2008.
More: Don Williams column: Withhold AP Top 25 college football poll for month? That's a bad idea
More: Managing the hits: What do camp injuries mean for Texas Tech football receiving unit?
Texas Tech returns seven offensive players and seven defensive players who started at least six games last season. The Red Raiders finished 8-5 and on a four-game win streak that included a 42-25 upset of Mississippi in the Texas Bowl. They have a settled quarterback situation, Tyler Shough having been named the starter two months ago and Behren Morton backing him up. Both started games last season.
Tech starts this season Sept. 2 at Wyoming. The Red Raiders' home opener is Sept. 9 against Oregon, which is No. 15.
Georgia, which has won the past two national championships, starts the season ranked No. 1. Behind the Bulldogs in the top five are Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama and LSU. Rounding out the top 10 are Southern California, Penn State, Florida State, Clemson and Washington.
Then comes Texas, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Utah, Oregon, Kansas State, TCU, Oregon State, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tulane and Iowa.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: See where Texas Tech football landed in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll
