The AP released the Top 25 Football Poll with Texas Tech checking in at No. 23. If you like looking at this sort of thing, College Poll Tracker shows how every voter voted (Jon Wilner has Texas Tech at No. 11!) including those writers who left Texas Tech off the Top 25 completely (looking right at you Kirk Bohls).

CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford has underrated and overrated teams in the AP Top 25 and has Texas Tech as one of the underrated teams:

Can Joey McGuire and this group manage a jackpot return on a calculated gamble this offseason in the transfer portal? Texas Tech signed the nation’s second-best class behind LSU with 21 transfers, but the most important player in the two-deep is quarterback Behren Morton. Maybe the most underrated signal caller at the Power Four level, Morton eclipsed 3,000 yards and tossed 27 touchdown passes last season and used the entire offseason to rehabilitate a shoulder injury.

If the Big 12 program with the heftiest payroll gets to November with a chance to reach the conference championship game, talent may win out down the stretch and lead the Red Raiders into the CFP for the first time.

ESPN’s Pamela Maldonado has a bet for every AP Top 25 team:

The bet: Texas Tech over 8.5 wins(-140)

Quarterback continuity with Behren Morton means steady production at the most important position. Offensive line upgrades give Morton time to attack vertically and keep the run game strong, utilizing added players to the receiving group and backfield. Adding LBs David Bailey and Romello Height and Lee Hunter up front, turn the the Red Raiders’ defensive front into a strength, while added secondary depth lets defensive coordinator Shiel Wood be aggressive and fix last year’s leaky pass defense. Texas Tech’s schedule is front-loaded, with a strong chance to start 4-0. From there, splitting the tougher road games gets them to 9-3, making over 8.5 wins worth backing despite the -140 price.

Head coach Joey McGuire sat down with Taylor Peters (this was filmed right before practice started).

The media availability was Outside Linebackers Coach C.J. Ah You and Wide Receivers Coach, Assistant Head Coach & Passing Game Coordinator Justin Johnson. I am slightly joking, but this may be the longest press conference by Ah You that I can remember.