On the Gridiron

Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-1)
Bad Guys: Oregon Ducks (12-1)
Where: Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, Florida
When: Thursday, January 1st @ 11:00 am
TV & Streaming: ESPN
Radio: The Varsity Network
The Line: Oregon -2.5
Game Notes: Texas Tech | Oregon
Weather Report: Sunny, High 70 Low 49

Hype video with Zach Thomas narrating!

This is no longer an underdog story.

🎙️ Hall of Famer Zach Thomas#WreckEm | @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/TXIizz1vDk

— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) January 1, 2026

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: Caleb Douglas back in Florida, excelling with Texas Tech football

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: How Skyler Gill-Howard remains one of Texas Tech’s best leaders while injured

“That’s what I tell guys all the time. It could always be worse,” Gill-Howard said. “I’ve been through so much in my career to where something like this, obviously it sucks, and I’m not going to sit here and act like it’s nothing, but I’ve been through a lot, so to me, it is nothing, and something I can definitely bounce back from.”

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: Micah Hudson ‘right where I need to be’ with Texas Tech football

“Me trusting God in the aspect of not being so quick to make a decision,” Hudson said, “instead of thinking about it a little bit more and then sticking with it. I feel like that’s what’s helped me get to where I’m at right now.”

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams: Which Texas Tech football team’s better, 2008 or 2025? | Williams

South Florida sunshine streamed through the giant, suite-level windows behind him on Tuesday at Hard Rock Stadium as McBath considered the question.

“This team is a more complete team,” he said. “I think the style we play on offense and the style we play on defense really, truly complement each other. I think top to bottom, just the depth that we have is better than we had in ’08. Talent-wise, I think it’s a better team.”

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: Texas Tech-Oregon CFP game pits Leftwich brothers against each other

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams: For Texas Tech football and Oregon, hometown guys made good | Williams

“I think my brother told me the other day, ‘Hey, do you realize you were the lowest-rated scholarship recruit that we recruited in your class?'” Curry said during Orange Bowl media day on Tuesday, Dec. 30. “I was like, ‘No, I had no idea.’ I never really paid attention to that stuff. To me, I was just on the same level as everyone else, so that just helped me propel to get where I am.”

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: Battle of the trenches will decide CFP game between Texas Tech, Oregon

Oregon ranks 13th in the nation in rushing yards, averaging over 217 per game. That’s quite the contrast to a Texas Tech defense that’s surrendered just three 100-yard games to opponents this season. Kansas State had the most against the Red Raiders, the majority coming from quarterback Avery Johnson, and still wound up with just 126 yards on the ground.

“They don’t make a lot of mistakes,” Texas Tech’s outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You said of Oregon’s offensive line. “They capitalize on guys getting out of their gaps. They’re very disciplined, so we have a great test.”

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams: Zach Thomas weighs in on Texas Tech football star Jacob Rodriguez

“He’s had me watch every game,” Thomas said, “because I love watching great players. His awards speak for themselves, because he’s that type of player. He’s another level, the best defender we’ve ever had at Texas Tech, and so I’m so happy for him, because I was just talking about humility, and that guy has it. He’s got talent, too.

“He’s going to be great on the next level, and I’m just happy to follow him going forth.”

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: Orange Bowl coaches Joey McGuire, Dan Lanning cut from the same cloth

Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Wolken: Meet Joey McGuire, the guy who actually coaches the Texas Tech team with the big-money roster

For as long as college sports have been around, the shadowy booster bankrolling a program — whether it was legal or not — has been the source of endless fascination and lore. Campbell’s willingness to talk so openly about the financial aspect, and his dalliances on the political side of college sports, have made him a target for attention to the point where he’s practically the face of the program.

That’s not surprising. But it’s also a little unfair because it’s come at the expense of Joey McGuire getting much credit for just how dominant the Red Raiders were this year.

ESPN’s Max Olson: Texas Tech’s gamble on HS legend Joey McGuire has paid off

Texas Tech interviewed two sitting head coaches in Jeff Traylor and Sonny Dykes. Some powerful people wanted Mike Leach or Art Briles. Tech officials visited with prominent alumni and coordinators on the rise, including future Texas A&M coach Mike Elko.

But after one sit-down with the magnetic McGuire, the members of Texas Tech’s search committee were undeniably smitten.

“I’ll never forget when it ended and he walked out, we were all like, ‘We found our guy,'” former deputy AD Tony Hernandez said.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly: 2025 CFP quarterfinals preview: Keys to all four matchups

Oregon ranks fifth nationally in success rate* and first in percentage of plays gaining at least 20 yards (10.8%). That’s a good combination.

(*Success rate: how frequently an offense gains 50% of necessary yardage on first down, 70% on second and 100% on third or fourth.)

But Tech’s defense ranks third in both categories. The Red Raiders are also third in defensive SP+, and against three top-15 defenses (Indiana, Iowa and Washington), Oregon averaged a mortal 21.3 points and 5.4 yards per play. The run game was still nicely efficient, but the big plays vanished. Moore averaged just 10.8 yards per completion, and the Ducks scored TDs on only two of 10 red zone trips. If the Ducks don’t have a clear athleticism advantage, the attack can get gummed up, and they can’t count on many mismatches against Tech.

Tech is first in yards allowed per carry (not including sacks) and third in yards allowed per dropback. Jacob Rodriguez is the Havoc King of 2025, and star transfer David Bailey is nearly the sacks king (he has 13.5). In Romello Height and 330-pound tackle Lee Hunter, the Red Raiders have two other 10-TFL guys, and corners Brice Pollock and Amier Boyd have allowed a 39% completion rate with seven interceptions and eight breakups. Tech forced at least two turnovers in 10 games, made at least seven tackles for loss in eight, and no opponent produced even a 40% success rate (the national average in all FBS games was 42.7%). The quarterfinals are loaded with excellent defenses, but Tech’s grades out as well as any.

CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello: ‘People should be very scared:’ How Texas Tech kicked the door in, and why the Red Raiders are here to stay

What’s next with Robert Giovannetti and Joey McGuire:

Sports Dissected with Zane Perry on how he preps the helmets each week:

On the Hardwood

Lady Raider Basketball: No. 21 Tech ties best start in program history

More milestones were reached tonight as the Texas Tech Lady Raiders tied for their best start in program history (2003-04), while going 2-0 to begin conference play for the first time since 2011-12 as they took down the UCF Knights, 73-55, at the United Supermarkets Arena.

The No. 21 Lady Raiders (15-0, 2-0 Big 12) were led by Jalynn Bristow, who had 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting from the field (.615). Bristow also led the way with three triples, five rebounds and two blocks. Snudda Collins posted 15 points and added three rebounds and a steal in the game against UCF (8-5, 0-2 Big 12). Bailey Maupin was in double-figures for the 13th time this year as she had 12 points while dishing out three assists.

Gemma Núñez lit up the stat sheet once again, shooting 55.5 percent from the field for 11 points and leading the team with five rebounds and eight assists. Núñez did not commit a single turnover, while recording two steals on the night. Denae Fritz also tied for the team lead with five rebounds and had a team-best and season-high of three steals against the Knights.