2025 College Football Big 12 Team Previews: Texas Tech Red Raiders

Team: Texas Tech
Mascot: Red Raiders
Student Population: 40,969
Established: 1923
Motto: “From here, it’s possible”
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Head Coach: Joey McGuire
Offensive Coordinator: Mack Leftwich
Defensive Coordinator: Shiel Wood
2024 Record: 8-5

Rankings

SP+: 26
FPI: 35
Kelly Ford: 27

Power Rankings

CBS Sports: 2

Texas Tech contended with LSU for the top transfer class of the offseason with 21 portal additions and 13 four-star recruits. Joey McGuire’s has an argument for the talented roster in the Big 12 and a defense that should come together under new coordinator Shiel Wood. Expectations are off the charts. (+600)

SB Nation: 3

We discuss a lot about how NIL and transfer portal has revamped a lot of teams, but the purest example of that might be the 2025 Texas Tech Red Raiders. They spent heavily in the transfer portal, and have pushed all their chips in on a playoff berth in 2025. Let’s start at the top: Texas Tech portaled in Stanford EDGE David Bailey, UCF DT Lee Hunter and Georgia Tech DT Romello Height to revamp a defensive line that finished 57th in the Power 5 in pressure rate and 65th in sack rate. Bailey is the star of this group, a potential first round pick at a premium position. The portal additions didn’t stop there, they just expanded to the offensive side of the ball. The Red Raiders signed former USC RB Quinten Joyner, former Louisiana TE Terrance Carter and Miami (OH) receiver Reggie Virgil to boost the offensive production, as well as bringing back wide receiver Micah Hudson. Three more offensive lineman in the portal, and you get one of the most ambitious and expansive portal overhauls in CFB.

The biggest question is going to be at QB, where Behren Morton comes back for another year under center. Morton runs hot and cold, but with the star studded cast of players surrounding him on offense, could he be able to build more consistency? Texas Tech’s playoff hopes ride on that one question.

24/7 Sports: 2

Texas Tech is all in on 2025, leveraging one of the most aggressive NIL pushes in the nation to land the No. 2 transfer class. With more than $10 million reportedly invested in roster upgrades, the Red Raiders have reloaded with top-end talent and filled critical needs across the board. After years of middling results, Texas Tech is finally built for a breakthrough — chasing its first double-digit win season since 2008 under the late Mike Leach.

Transfer Class Rankings

24/7 Sports: National Rank 2 | Big 12 Rank 1 (21 players)
Rivals: National Rank 3 | Big 12 Rank 1 (22 players)

Miscellaneous

Bovada Win Totals: 8.5

Athlon Big 12 Predictions: 3

Not only was Texas Tech one of the biggest winners of college football’s offseason, coach Joey McGuire’s team will be among the most intriguing teams to watch this fall. The Red Raiders spent big-time NIL dollars this offseason to upgrade a roster that the program hopes will translate to winning a Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. After going 6-3 in league play last season, Texas Tech’s additions and improvements through the portal might be enough to get this team over the hump.

The Red Raiders have all of the ingredients to have one of the Big 12’s top offenses. Quarterback Behren Morton is expected to return to full strength after offseason shoulder surgery. He will have help coming from the portal to bolster the receiving corps, including Reggie Virgil (Miami, Ohio), along with Micah Hudson’s decision to return to Lubbock after transferring earlier in the offseason. But the biggest help to Morton should come in the trenches. After struggling up front in ‘24, Texas Tech added four transfers to upgrade this unit, including Howard Sampson (North Carolina) and Will Jados (Miami, Ohio). Running back Tahj Brooks will be missed, but Quinten Joyner and J’Koby Williams will keep the ground game on track.

Defense has been a long-running issue for Texas Tech. However, the hire of coordinator Shiel Wood from Houston, along with a handful of portal additions, has provided optimism for this unit to take a step forward. The biggest acquisitions for McGuire came up front. Ends David Bailey and Romello Height will create havoc off the edge, while UCF transfer Lee Hunter can fortify the interior. Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts form a solid duo at linebacker, while McGuire is counting on a couple of transfers to help improve a struggling pass defense.