Aug. 1, 2008

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech received its highest preseason ranking in 31 years Friday as a panel of coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision ranked the Red Raiders No. 14 in the first USA Today Coaches Poll of the season. Tech has been ranked in three of the last four preseasons (2005, 2006, 2008) in the coaches and/or Associated Press polls.

The last time Texas Tech was ranked as high in the preseason was in 1977 when the Red Raiders entered the season No. 8 in the AP poll. The highest ever ranking for a Tech team was No. 5 during a three-week stretch in 1976.

Overall, the Red Raiders have been ranked each season since 2004, with a high ranking of No. 8 in the coaches poll during the 2005 season.

The Red Raiders return 18 starters from last year's Gator Bowl Champion squad, including 10 on offense. Additionally, 36 of 44 players from last season's two-deep also return.

Texas Tech is one of five Big 12 Conference teams ranked among the nation's top 15 as Oklahoma (4), Missouri (7), Texas (10) and Kansas (13) were also ranked. The five teams from the league represent the most for the conference in a preseason poll since 2002.

Several publications and media outlets have ranked the Red Raiders anywhere from No. 8 to No. 25 in 2008. However, the coaches poll is factored into the BCS equation, while the AP poll is the oldest and most recognized.

The 2008 schedule gets underway for Texas Tech on Aug. 30 when the Red Raiders host Eastern Washington at Jones AT&T Stadium for a 6 p.m. CT kickoff.