Texas Tech Upsets No. 1 Arizona in Overtime

The Red Raiders' win over the Wildcats shakes up the national rankings.

Feb. 17, 2026 at 8:55am

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The No. 16 Texas Tech Red Raiders pulled off a major upset, defeating the previously top-ranked Arizona Wildcats 78-75 in overtime. The victory propels Texas Tech into the conversation as one of the nation's best teams, with standout performances from JT Toppin, who recorded a double-double with 31 points and 13 rebounds.

Why it matters

This win over the No. 1 team in the country solidifies Texas Tech as a force to be reckoned with in college basketball. The Red Raiders have now defeated several highly ranked opponents this season, including No. 3 Duke and No. 6 Houston, and this victory over Arizona will likely vault them up the national rankings.

The details

Texas Tech took advantage of an early injury to Arizona star Koa Peat, which proved detrimental to the Wildcats. The Red Raiders were led by JT Toppin's dominant performance, as the defending Big 12 Player of the Year scored a season-high 31 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Texas Tech now sits third in the Big 12 standings and has an easier remaining schedule, with only two more ranked opponents left on the regular season slate.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 16, 2026.
  • Texas Tech will next face Arizona State on Tuesday, February 19, 2026 at 10:00 PM on ESPN2.

The players

JT Toppin

The defending Big 12 Player of the Year had a standout game for Texas Tech, scoring a season-high 31 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.

Koa Peat

The Arizona star was injured early in the game, which proved detrimental to the Wildcats' performance.

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What’s next

Texas Tech will look to build on this momentum as they face Arizona State on Tuesday night, while Arizona will try to rebound from their first loss of the season.

The takeaway

Texas Tech's upset victory over the previously top-ranked Arizona Wildcats has firmly placed the Red Raiders among the nation's elite teams. With their strong performance against several highly ranked opponents this season, Texas Tech has proven they can compete with the best teams in the country.