BCS Rankings: Does Texas Tech Deserve a Higher Ranking in the USA Today Poll?

After Texas Tech went into Norman and shocked the Oklahoma Sooners 41-38 Saturday night, the Red Raiders were awarded with the No. 22 ranking in this week's USA Today Top 25 Poll.

Credit is given where it is due, and Tommy Tuberville should be giving high fives this week for a gritty performance that saw Oklahoma's 39-game home winning streak snapped.

The Red Raiders are 5-2 and after knocking off last week's No. 1 team in the USA Today Poll, do they deserve better?

Absolutely not.

Body of Work

One game does not make a season, just as one win does not make a team.

Yes, Texas Tech shocked the college football world after quarterback Seth Doege carved up a depleted Sooners' secondary, but at the same time, nobody knows who the Red Raiders are.

A 4-0 start to the season gave the Red Raiders momentum going into the heat of their Big 12 slate. But consecutive home losses to No. 24 Texas A&M and No. 17 Kansas State, as marginal as the defeats may have been (12 points combined margin of loss), it was Tech's defense that was most egregious.

Although the Red Raiders boast the nation's third-best passing offense, fifth-best total offense and ninth-best scoring offense, their defense is far from mediocre and not in a good way. They have given up at least 34 points in their last five games.

Moreover, Tech has not faced a stiff pass defense, which leaves its aerial attack somewhat untested despite its efficient productivity.

More to Learn

We saw what the Red Raiders could do on a national stage against Oklahoma. But there is much more to be learned about Texas Tech as the season moves on.

With three road games remaining, and a home contest against Oklahoma State, we will see how accurate this No. 22 ranking really is for Tuberville's Red Raiders.