Texas Tech’s dream College Football Playoff run did not end as planned, but the Red Raiders still claimed their first Big 12 title and reached the CFP quarterfinals before a lopsided 23-0 loss to Oregon.
Red Raiders’ historic finish sets the stage for a potential breakthrough 2026 season
Texas Tech finished the season ranked in the AP top 10 for the first time in program history. Joey McGuire's Red Raiders finished at No. 7. Along with this achievement, the Red Raiders secured their first Big 12 title, winning a record 12 games, and advanced to the College Football Playoff. This kind of breakthrough suggests that this could be only the beginning in Lubbock.
Just days after their New Year's Day loss to Oregon, Texas Tech signed veteran quarterback Brendan Sorsby, a native of North Texas who previously started for the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Big 12 and had a breakout season, drawing the attention of NFL scouts, prompting discussions about whether he should declare for the draft or transfer to another program to enhance his resume.
He ultimately chose to transfer to the West Texas powerhouse. “We’re excited about Sorsby,” McGuire said. “He’s back home in Texas. I believe he’s an elite quarterback; he’ll play on Sundays, and he’s going to be a great leader for us.”
Fortunately for the Red Raiders, they are backed by the Matador Club and an ambitious 44-year-old alumnus, Cody Campbell, who is all-in on Texas Tech’s success. The billionaire oil and gas executive has become one of the most influential figures in college sports reform. “I’m a threat to the status quo,” Campbell says. “But the status quo is failing. A lot of people want to hold on to the way things used to be. The fact is, we’ve already crossed the Rubicon.”
Campbell's generous $25 million donation was pivotal in launching Texas Tech's south end zone project and the overall football master plan. He stands in front of the Matador Club, an NIL collective that has raised over $60 million for Red Raiders athletes since 2022. The support for Texas Tech athletics is evident, even as the program navigates a postseason format that still seems unbalanced.
Winding down his postgame news conference at Hard Rock Stadium after the loss to Oregon, McGuire put it bluntly: “We’re in a world that makes no sense,” he said. “But that’s where we’re at, and you’ve got to find a way to be better to win this game.”
Texas Tech begins its season at home against Abilene Christian on September 5.
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