Texas Tech has a massive opportunity this weekend. The Red Raiders host Arizona in a matchup that could significantly affect the Big 12 race and their College Football Playoff hopes.

After a frustrating loss to Cincinnati, getting back on track is a must for head coach Joey McGuire’s team. But Saturday isn’t just about what happens in Lubbock.

Several games around the country could help Texas Tech climb the Big 12 standings and improve its position in the playoff picture. The Red Raiders need to handle their own business first, but a few upsets elsewhere could make their road to the conference championship considerably easier.

Here’s who Texas Tech fans should be rooting for this weekend and why each game matters.

Cincinnati over Utah

The first game Texas Tech fans should have circled is Utah’s road matchup against Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon.

Utah entered the weekend unbeaten at 7-0 overall and 4-0 in Big 12 play, putting the Utes alone at the top of the conference standings. That makes them the team Texas Tech needs to keep an eye on in the race for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.

The obvious complication is that Cincinnati just handed Texas Tech a loss. The Bearcats are not exactly a team Red Raider fans want to see celebrating, but this is a situation where the bigger picture matters more than any lingering frustration.

A Cincinnati win would give Utah its first loss of the season and tighten the conference race. Texas Tech would still have to win its remaining games, but an opening at the top of the standings is exactly what the Red Raiders need.

Rooting interest: Cincinnati. It’s not the most comfortable pick after what the Bearcats did to Texas Tech, but it’s arguably the most important result outside of the Arizona game.

Arizona State over BYU

Another game with significant Big 12 implications is BYU’s road trip to Arizona State.

BYU is 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, putting the Cougars in the same group as Texas Tech, Arizona and Oklahoma State. They’re also ranked among the nation’s top teams, making them a direct threat to the Red Raiders’ conference championship hopes.

An Arizona State upset would hand BYU its second loss and give Texas Tech a chance to gain ground in the standings. The Sun Devils would improve their own conference record with a win, so this isn’t a perfect scenario. However, BYU is one of the teams Texas Tech needs to catch, and a loss would make that job easier.

The Red Raiders cannot afford to overlook Arizona, but they should be paying attention to this one. If Texas Tech wins and BYU loses, the weekend could look considerably better in Lubbock.

Rooting interest: Arizona State. Pull for the upset and hope BYU takes another hit in the conference race.

Iowa State over Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State is another team Texas Tech needs to monitor closely. The Cowboys are 3-1 in Big 12 play and remain firmly in the hunt for a spot in the conference championship game.

The good news for Texas Tech is that it still has a head-to-head matchup against Oklahoma State on November 14. That game allows the Red Raiders to take matters into their own hands later in the season.

Still, why wait for that matchup to get some help?

An Iowa State victory would give Oklahoma State its second conference loss and create a little more separation between the Cowboys and the teams fighting for the top spots. Texas Tech has its own work to do, but watching a conference rival lose before a crucial stretch of the schedule is never a bad thing.

Rooting interest: Iowa State. The Red Raiders have a chance to deal with Oklahoma State themselves, but an earlier loss would make that matchup less daunting.

USC over Ohio State

Texas Tech fans should also keep an eye on the national playoff picture, and Saturday night’s matchup between Ohio State and USC offers an opportunity to root against a team near the top of the rankings.

Ohio State is one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams, and a loss to USC would put a dent in its playoff résumé. That could matter if the Red Raiders ultimately need to compete for an at-large playoff spot rather than secure the Big 12’s automatic berth.

Of course, Texas Tech shouldn’t be counting on other teams to lose their way into the playoff. Winning the Big 12 remains the clearest path. But if the Red Raiders finish the season with a strong record and a conference championship-caliber résumé, losses by other highly ranked teams could help the national picture break their way.

Rooting interest: USC. An upset would shake up the rankings and potentially open some room for teams trying to climb.

Texas Tech’s biggest priority is still beating Arizona

All of these rooting interests are secondary to the game happening in Lubbock.

Arizona is also 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play, making this a direct matchup between two teams trying to stay in the conference championship hunt. A Texas Tech victory would give the Red Raiders a valuable head-to-head win over a ranked opponent while putting them back on track after the Cincinnati loss.

A defeat, on the other hand, would leave Texas Tech with very little room for error. The Red Raiders would have to make up ground in a crowded conference race, and help from other teams would become even more important.

That’s why this game feels bigger than a typical late-October matchup. Texas Tech has the talent to make a playoff push, but it needs to prove it can respond when the stakes rise.

The perfect weekend for Texas Tech

If you’re a Red Raider fan planning to scoreboard-watch, here’s the ideal scenario:

• Texas Tech beats Arizona: The most important result of the weekend. Take down a direct conference competitor and improve the Red Raiders’ position.
• Cincinnati beats Utah: The Big 12’s unbeaten conference leader takes its first loss.
• Arizona State beats BYU: One of the Red Raiders’ main competitors suffers another conference defeat.
• Iowa State beats Oklahoma State: Another contender takes a damaging loss.
• USC beats Ohio State: A national contender loses, potentially helping Texas Tech’s broader playoff positioning.

If those results fall into place, Texas Tech could come out of the weekend in a much stronger position to pursue the Big 12 Championship Game.

The Red Raiders don’t need every result to go their way, and the national rankings will continue to change throughout the season. But they do need to start winning the games in front of them.

The bottom line: Beat Arizona first, then root for Cincinnati, Arizona State and Iowa State. Those three results would have the most direct impact on Texas Tech’s Big 12 championship hopes. A little chaos elsewhere would be a bonus, but the Red Raiders’ playoff push starts with taking care of business at home.