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Notre Dame and Texas Tech are fighting for positioning in the College Football Playoff ahead of the Week 12 schedule. More News: College Football Playoff Contender Has Heartbreaking Loss on Friday Night The No. 10 Fighting Irish look to move up the CFP Rankings after blowing out Navy 49-10 on Saturday night. With a 29-7 win over No. 7 BYU on Saturday, No. 8 Texas Tech recorded its best win since Michael Crabtree’s game-winning catch in a win over then-No. 1 Texas in 2008. Maybe Joey McGuire is doing a bit of politicking in November, or maybe he has an axe to grind with Notre Dame, but TTU’s head coach called out the Irish for their independence when talking to reporters after defeating the Cougars. SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 08: Cree Thomas #20, CJ Carr #13 and Aamil Wagner #59 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates after a win over the Navy Midshipmen at Notre Dame Stadium on November 08, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) More News: Jon Sumrall Sends Serious LSU Message BYU was independent from 2011-2022, and McGuire praised the program for joining the Big 12 in 2023. He suggested (though not by name) that Notre Dame wasn’t “earning” its place in the CFP. “I was really excited whenever (BYU) joined the Big 12, because I think that they carry a lot of weight and a lot of respect. I think that I have a lot of respect for them entering a conference and not playing an independent schedule like other people,” McGuire said, suggesting the “other people” were Notre Dame. “You already know who that is, and so I have a lot of respect for that. “I mean, they’re earning their right just like everybody, but a couple of people in the nation, are earning their right through conference play, and playing in some really tough places.” As Tyler Horka of On3 points out, the Irish have a better strength of schedule than TTU despite not playing in arguably the weakest Power 4 conference. “We live in a world in which Joey McGuire, the head coach at Texas Tech, a program with 3 double-digit win seasons since 1970, is taking shots at Notre Dame, a program with 20,” Horka wrote. “Sticking to 2025 — TTU’s strength of schedule is No. 68 per the Sagarin Ratings. ND’s is No. 22.” We live in a world in which Joey McGuire, the head coach at Texas Tech, a program with 3 double-digit win seasons since 1970, is taking shots at Notre Dame, a program with 20.Sticking to 2025 — TTU’s strength of schedule is No. 68 per the Sagarin Ratings. ND’s is No. 22. pic.twitter.com/57JxU7YaMG— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) November 10, 2025 The Irish are set to go on the road to face No. 24 Pittsburgh (7-2) on Saturday. Texas Tech will host 4-5 UCF in Week 12. For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
