Red Raiders enter top 10 of U.S. LBM coaches poll

The Red Raiders also jumped two spots to No. 11 in the Associated Press poll following the win. Tech had to claw back from an early 10-0 hole against the Cougars before pulling out the two-point victory, pushing the team to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 play. Houston dropped to No. 25 in the AP poll after the loss.

For a fan base that spends the fall glued to Jones AT&T Stadium, a top-10 ranking this early means something. Tech beat a ranked opponent while trailing, and both major polls noticed. That kind of start changes the conversation heading into the heart of conference play, where every Saturday now carries more weight with a ranking attached.

Neighbors packing bars along 19th Street or tailgating near the stadium have a real stake in these next few weeks. A 3-0 start with a top-10 ranking raises the stakes for Tech's remaining Big 12 schedule. Losing that ranking would sting a lot more now than it would have a month ago.