During the Arkansas-Pine Bluff game, Texas Tech received a commitment from 2027 offensive tackle Cooper Hackett (6-7/260) from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Hackett is a 5-star, adding another one, to the 2027 class, a 5-star and 95.25 rating according to On3 and 4-star and 94 rating according to 24/7 Sports. Hackett had offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M.

Recruiting Profiles: On3 | 24/7 Sports

Hackett is mauling these kids from Oklahoma, he’s tall and skinny (for an offensive lineman), but appears to play with attitude and some power. These are just sophomore highlights so he’s just a pup and there’s a ton of room to grow.

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams opines (I always try to distinguish when Williams is writing an opinion piece, like this one, versus Williams writing reporting articles) that Texas Tech answered the opening bell on Saturday night:

A lot of guys did the jersey proud on opening night. Behren Morton, limited to only 1 1/2 quarters because of an injury, hit 16 of 18 passes for 201 yards and 4 touchdowns. Two went to new tight end Terrance Carter Jr. Sophomore running backs Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams, eager to show out after the season-ending injury to stablemate Quinten Joyner, combined for 154 yards on 18 carries with a TD apiece.

The answer to the preseason prop “Who’ll score the Red Raiders’ first touchdown” was Reggie Virgil, another of the much-discussed transfer crop.

When the Red Raiders got the ball last with 12 seconds left in the game, they’d scored on all 11 possessions: nine TDs and two field goals. They racked up 608 yards — 314 through the air, 294 on the ground; how’s that for balance? — with no turnovers and not much sloppiness.

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese on the present and future on display on Saturday night:

Simply destroying an inferior FCS opponent wasn’t the only thing the Red Raiders accomplished on Saturday night. Regardless of how the 2025 season ends — in Arlington, the College Football Playoff or the Pop-Tarts Bowl — Joey McGuire, his staff and the rest of the program cannot let this be a one-year thing.

As much hype as there is surrounding the transfer portal haul orchestrated from December to April, most of those players won’t be around longer than a year or two. Sustainability is the best indicator of program success. McGuire has generated that in his first three years. The all-in effort to make 2025 the year of Texas Tech shows he and mega-booster Cody Campbell want even more.

I want to be clear that I didn’t watch a snap of Texas vs. Ohio State. I also think that Arch Manning will probably be fine, but the hype surrounding him, not necessarily his fault, was just too much. You don’t ever want to catch strays from Brenden Clinton:

Film Session w/ Coach 30 – #Texas vs. #OhioState pic.twitter.com/M7buzLdbnC

— Brenden Clinton (@MrGo30) August 31, 2025