Texas Tech
From Lubbock to the national spotlight, Texas Tech brings edge, intensity, and expectation every time it takes the floor or field. Competing in the Big 12, the Red Raiders are known for relentless effort and the ability to challenge anyone, anywhere.
Texas Tech Earns No. 4 Seed, Secures First Orange Bowl Trip
Texas Tech will play in the Capital One Orange Bowl for the first time in program history after being named the No. 4 seed in Sunday’s final College Football Playoff rankings. The Red Raiders clinched the bid as Big 12 champions.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Questions about Texas Tech’s heavy investment in the transfer portal have followed the Red Raiders all season, and Saturday provided another emphatic answer. The Big 12 champions continue to reap the benefits, capturing their first conference title and securing a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history — a berth that is expected to come with a first-round bye. After No. 5 Texas Tech rolled past No. 11 BYU, 34-7, in the Big 12 Championship Game, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez embraced the narrative surrounding the roster overhaul. He was one of the leaders on a defense that overwhelmed BYU throughout the night. Head coach Joey McGuire echoed the confidence following the win, expressing optimism about where the Red Raiders will land in the CFP rankings and the possibility of opening the playoff with a bye week. Rodriguez finished with 13 tackles, while fellow linebacker Ben Roberts rebounded from an early injury scare to record two second-half interceptions. Texas Tech (12-1, No. 4 CFP) forced four turnovers and limited BYU to a season-low 200 yards of offense. Both defenders are veteran contributors in a unit reshaped by key transfer additions.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Music echoed through the Texas Tech locker room Saturday night as the Red Raiders celebrated a regular season unlike any they’ve had in nearly two decades. Behind a dominant performance on both sides of the ball, No. 7 Texas Tech overwhelmed West Virginia 49-0 in its final game before the Big 12 Championship. Quarterback Behren Morton passed for 310 yards and three scores, while linebacker Jacob Rodriguez added an offensive touchdown for the second straight week. The shutout victory capped Texas Tech’s most successful regular season in 17 years and sent the Red Raiders into the conference title game riding significant momentum.
LUBBOCK, Texas — Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez celebrated in Heisman fashion after scoring the first offensive touchdown of his career, while Reggie Virgil found the end zone three times as No. 8 Texas Tech dominated UCF 48-9 on Saturday. With the win, the Red Raiders (10-1, 7-1 Big 12, No. 6 CFP) kept their hopes alive for a first Big 12 title in the regular season, reaching 10 wins for the first time since the 2008 team under the late Mike Leach finished 11-2. The Golden Knights (4-6, 1-6) struggled on offense, failing to record a first down until trailing 21-0. UCF fell to 0-4 in road games, having been outscored 78-12 on their last two trips to Texas, and were held to just 52 rushing yards by the nation’s top-ranked run defense.
Texas Tech showed complete control in Saturday’s 29-7 victory over BYU. The Red Raiders racked up 368 yards of offense behind a well-balanced attack and limited the Cougars to a single touchdown and just 67 rushing yards.
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Behren Morton returned from injury to throw for 249 yards and two touchdowns, while J'Koby Williams rushed for 135 yards and a score, helping No. 13 Texas Tech cruise past a turnover-prone Kansas State team 43-20 on Saturday. Cameron Dickey also contributed a touchdown run as the Red Raiders (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) forced five turnovers and snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Wildcats (4-5, 3-3), recording their first win in Manhattan since 2008. “That was a huge win,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said, arriving at his postgame press conference in a T-shirt featuring former Kansas State linebacker-turned-Red Raiders athletic director Kirby Hocutt. McGuire added, “This isn’t meant to disrespect K-State—it’s a nod to our AD, who played linebacker here. It’s been a long time since we beat Kansas State, so this win meant a lot for him and this team.” The victory marks Texas Tech’s strongest start in conference play since 2008, the season Mike Leach led the team to the Cotton Bowl.