--- title: "Cincinnati Upsets Texas Tech 37-24" url: https://newscentral.site/cincinnati-upsets-texas-tech/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Sports" published: 2026-10-24T21:04:26.000Z updated: 2026-10-24T21:43:59.801Z id: cb2823c1-b14c-4e44-9fdc-3007ceb34d82 source: "CBS Sports \n https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/cincinnatis-upset-texas-tech-big-12-college-football-playoff-picture-teams/" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/cincinnati-upsets-texas-tech/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Cincinnati Upsets Texas Tech 37-24 The Bearcats' victory is a significant blow to the conference's hopes for multiple selections in the playoff. Cincinnati defeated eighth-ranked Texas Tech behind quarterback JC French and running back Cole Tabb. Cincinnati has sent shockwaves through the College Football Playoff picture by upsetting eighth-ranked Texas Tech 37-24 on Saturday. The win marked the end of the Red Raiders' nine-game Big 12 winning streak that dated back to last season. The Bearcats' victory is a significant blow to the conference's hopes for multiple selections in the playoff. With five top-25 teams entering Week 8, the focus has shifted to other matchups within the league. The primetime battle between 14th-ranked Houston and No. 10 Utah will have a major impact on the standings. Behind an impressive performance from quarterback JC French, who threw four touchdown passes, and running back Cole Tabb, who rushed for a career-best 173 yards, Cincinnati broke out of its two-game slump with a signature win. The Bearcats' offense clicked into gear in the second quarter, where they scored 21 unanswered points to take control of the game. The Red Raiders struggled on both sides of the ball, turning the ball over three times and failing to recover from their deficit. Cincinnati's decisive victory marked only Scott Satterfield's second win at the helm of his team in four seasons. Cincinnati's triumph was also a personal one for the Bearcats, who were motivated by their loss of former quarterback Brendan Sorsby to Texas Tech through the transfer portal last offseason. Although Sorsby never played for the Red Raiders due to a suspension following a gambling investigation, his departure still stung Cincinnati fans. The Big 12 Conference is facing a challenge in having multiple teams qualify for the College Football Playoff (CFP) after Cincinnati's upset win over Texas Tech threw a wrench into their chances. The Red Raiders' offense must now win out, including a tough game against Arizona, to have any hope of repeating as conference champions and securing an automatic berth into the CFP. The league's top teams will be in action this weekend, with several key matchups that could impact their chances of making it into the playoffs. BYU is set to face UCF after their impressive win over Notre Dame last weekend, while Houston takes on Utah in a Saturday night game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The selection committee's new conference strength metric will come into play as they evaluate each team's schedule and performance. However, only one of the Big 12's five ranked teams has a strength of schedule ranked inside the top-35 nationally, which could be a concern for the league's chances of having multiple representatives in the CFP. BYU currently leads the conference in terms of strength of record and game controls, metrics that will be closely watched by the selection committee if the Cougars continue to perform well. Utah also has impressive numbers, but their strength of schedule is significantly weaker than BYU's, ranking 99th nationally. The late game on Saturday night between Houston and Utah will provide another important update on the league title race, particularly if the Utes can stay undefeated against the Cougars. A win for Houston would move them into a tie for second in the conference behind BYU. With several key games remaining on their schedules, the Big 12's top teams will be looking to make a strong finish and improve their chances of making it into the CFP. However, the selection committee's evaluation will depend on a range of factors, including team performance and strength of schedule. The College Football Playoff picture has taken a hit following Cincinnati's upset win over Texas Tech. The Bearcats' victory puts them firmly in contention for a spot in the playoffs, and their upcoming games against Utah and Houston will play a crucial role in determining their chances. Utah, meanwhile, has gained an advantage in the Big 12 conversation after its recent win. With a showdown against Cincinnati on the horizon, the Utes are well-positioned to make a strong case for themselves. The outcome of this game, combined with their subsequent matchup against BYU, will be crucial in determining their standing. The loss suffered by Texas Tech has significant implications, particularly given the team's best-case scenario of finishing 11-1 overall. This would put them in an intriguing position, but it remains to be seen whether they can overcome the challenges ahead and secure a playoff spot alongside multiple other Big 12 teams. --- Source: [CBS Sports]( https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/cincinnatis-upset-texas-tech-big-12-college-football-playoff-picture-teams/ ) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/cincinnati-upsets-texas-tech/