Texas Tech's national title odds sink minus JT Toppin

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Texas Tech's national championship odds have plummeted from +2500 to +11000 after star forward JT Toppin suffered a season-ending torn right ACL injury in Tuesday's loss to Arizona State. Toppin, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, leads the Red Raiders in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots per game. His absence will be difficult to replace as Texas Tech tries to make a deep NCAA Tournament run.

Why it matters

Toppin's injury is a major setback for a Texas Tech team that had emerged as a serious national title contender after upsetting then-No. 1 Arizona last week. The Red Raiders will now have to find a way to replace Toppin's production and defensive presence if they hope to maintain their status as one of the top teams in the Big 12 and make a push for the Final Four.

The details

An MRI confirmed that Toppin suffered a torn right ACL in Tuesday's loss to Arizona State. The junior forward was injured while driving to the basket with 6:03 remaining in the game and had to be assisted to the locker room. He did not return. Toppin leads Texas Tech in scoring (21.8 ppg), rebounding (10.8 rpg), and blocked shots (1.7 bpg). The Red Raiders' next-leading scorer is Christian Anderson at 19.0 ppg, and no other player on the roster is averaging more than 6.1 rebounds per game.

• On February 14, 2026, Texas Tech upset then-No. 1 Arizona.
• On February 18, 2026, Toppin suffered his season-ending injury in the loss to Arizona State.

What’s next

The Red Raiders will now have to find a way to replace Toppin's production and defensive presence as they try to maintain their status as one of the top teams in the Big 12 and make a push for the Final Four.