Joey McGuire isn’t mincing words. For years, Texas Tech has been a program on the outside looking in when it comes to Big 12 title conversations. Solid teams? Sure. Flashes of greatness? Yup. But real, sustained contention? That’s a different story. But heading into 2025, that narrative might be changing.
The historic haul in the transfer portal catapulted the Red Raiders to the No. 1 spot in the rankings. Joey McGuire and his staff have officially put the college football world on notice. This isn’t just a roster rebuild; it’s a calculated, all-in push to bring a championship home. And yet, the fourth-year HC is making one thing very clear. Money might have helped Texas Tech land elite talent. But it won’t dictate who will play on Saturdays.
Texas Tech compiled the best transfer class in the Big 12 — arguably in the entire country with 17 new transfer additions, per On3. But every last commitment came with a price. The program’s NIL collective paid a hefty sum with a reported $10 million spent on acquisitions. Their adjusted NIL value sits at $3.8 million, the highest in the Big 12. For a program that ranked No. 58 in the portal two years ago, it’s a seismic shift.
But as Josh Pate highlighted on his College Football show, these big-money NIL deals bring up a classic issue: does guaranteed money lead to a sense of entitlement for a starting role? Joey McGuire addressed this heads-on, emphasizing that to win every Saturday, players must embrace a relentless competitive spirit, much like how NFL teams foster that ‘someone’s trying to take your job’ mentality every single day.
“The one thing that we purposely do is we keep our position coaches out of the NIL world and what we’re going to revenue share and everything like that,” he said. “The one thing that I want those guys to understand is nobody’s going to step on the field by what we pay them… We’re putting the best players on the field so if that’s a guy that beats this guy out, then so be it. We talk all the time do not allow a player to take a non-competitive rep, if he does, get him off the field…these guys know they have to compete to be on the football field.” In other words, money doesn’t earn playing time; performance does.
NCAA, College League, USA Football: Texas Tech at Iowa State Nov 2, 2024 Ames, Iowa, USA Iowa State Cyclones place kicker Kyle Konrardy 97 lines up for the field goal against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jack Trice Stadium. The Red Raiders won 23-22. Ames Jack Trice Stadium Iowa USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xReesexStricklandx 20241102_gma_ax4_0432
Texas Tech’s GM James Blanchard also echoed that sentiment when discussing the aggressive portal approach. “I talked with (NIL director Cody Campbell) and Coach McGuire,” he told ESPN. “And Coach was like, ‘Man, if they can help us win the Big 12, let’s just go ahead and go all-in. Let’s do it.” And that’s exactly what the Red Raiders have done. Because you see, there’s apprehension after a humiliating 2024 season.
Texas Tech’s pass defense in 2024 was disastrous. The Red Raiders gave up 308 yards per game through the air. That’s the second worst in the entire FBS. No scheme tweaks could help except for an overhaul. So step one?
They parted ways with their three-year DC Tim DeRuyter. Step 2?
Loading up on defensive backs in the transfer portal like a title contender, not a team simply looking for depth. The team brought in several defensive talents highlighted by Tarrion Grant, Brice Pollock, and Amier Boyd-Matthews. Can the additions translate to success on the field in 2025?
The Red Raiders’ best shot at history
For all the hype surrounding Texas Tech’s roster transformation, one truth remains. The Red Raiders have never played in a Big 12 Championship game. Their last conference title came in 1994, back in the Southwest Conference days. But they’re about to change it.
When it comes to finding the best talent in the portal, efficiency is key. And the budget wasn’t a concern. The mindset was “all in.” Cody Campbell, Texas Tech board of regents member and billionaire behind the Matador Club collective, made the program’s intentions clear. “It speaks to our ambitions and our expectations,” he said. “We’re not planning on being left behind.”
And with the way the program is splurging, Texas Tech is pressured to change history. “We should be the most talented team in the Big 12 this year,” Campbell added. “As I tell people, the b— is shaped funny… we may not win every game. (But) we’ll be physically able to win every game.” If this portal heavy strategy pays off, that streak could finally end in 2025.
Joey McGuire has assembled a roster that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the Big 12. They got the lion’s share, landing 10 of the 20 highest-rated transfers to their conference, with three of them in the top four! Now, it’s about proving it on the field. One thing’s for sure—nobody’s getting a free pass. Not in Joey McGuire’s program.
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