The Texas Tech Red Raiders were one of the most compelling stories of the 2025 college football season. Following an unprecedented influx of cash from several high-level donors, the Red Raiders assembled a roster the city of Lubbock had never seen before. The defense was filled from top to bottom with standout stars like David Bailey and Jacob Rodriguez. The offense, which was admittedly the team's weak spot, still had productive pieces, too. In the end, Texas Tech rolled over the competition en route to a Big 12 title and the program’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff.
But that’s all in the rearview mirror now. Building on the foundation that was laid is the next step for Texas Tech, and it appears it’s well on its way to accomplishing that task via a fantastic recruiting class and an outstanding transfer portal haul. That’s all well and good, but sometimes what makes or breaks a season is how favorable the schedule is. In the case of Texas Tech, it’s been granted a gold mine of opportunity.
There are no roadblocks in sight for Texas Tech
It’s a given that the Red Raiders’ roster will warp just about anybody else’s in the Big 12. That fact already makes them the overwhelming favorite to win the league. Add the reality that the schedule doesn’t have many land mines, and it’s almost a certainty that Texas Tech will be playing in the Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington in December.
First, the nonconference slate should be a breeze. Contests against Abilene Christian, Oregon State, and Sam Houston should be cakewalks for a roster as talented as Texas Tech.
MORE: Texas' portal haul positions Longhorns as title favorites
In conference play, the competition doesn’t get much fiercer. Joey McGuire’s squad’s toughest game in the early going is probably when Arizona State waltzes into town on Oct. 17. Other than that, there’s not much else that should scare Texas Tech.
Sure, trips to Cincinnati, Stillwater and Waco theoretically could be stumbling blocks, but let’s face it: neither Cincinnati—which just lost its starting quarterback to Texas Tech’s portal plundering—Oklahoma State, a roster that’s essentially just 2025 North Texas, nor Baylor—a team that consistently seems to be on the brink of collapse—is going to have the necessary firepower to take down the Red and Black.
The only game late in the season that might trip them up is the home bout against TCU on Nov. 28. Even then, there’s no telling what state the Horned Frogs will be in at that point in the season. What is certain is that Texas Tech, with its money cannon of a roster, will be humming.
In summary, the Big 12 is Texas Tech’s to lose in 2026. It doesn’t have to play Utah or BYU, two of the best schools in the conference, and it gets to host all its toughest opponents. All that adds up to the Red Raiders cruising to yet another appearance in the CFP. If that doesn’t transpire, it would be the shock to end all shocks.
More Texas Tech football news:
- Composite college football top 25 rankings for 2026: Ohio State, Texas lead Way Too Early lists
- Texas Tech earns highest final ranking in school history as Red Raiders eye even bigger 2026 season
- Transfer portal winners & losers: Lane Kiffin boosts LSU with Sam Leavitt; Texas Tech, Indiana reload
- Texas Tech transfer Brendan Sorsby owes 7-figure payment to Cincinnati due to NIL contract details