Joey McGuire’s Texas Tech Rise Is Getting Impossible to Ignore - roundtable.io

The Red Raiders finished the 2025 season with an impressive 12-2 record. They posted an 8-1 mark in the Big 12. This dominant performance means Tech isn't just a fun underdog anymore. They enter 2026 expecting to contend with college football's elite. Around Lubbock, from the coffee shops on 19th Street to homes in Tech Terrace, expectations have truly reached another level. This success also changes how the nation views McGuire himself, moving him up the ranks among college coaches.

For regular people here, this means the energy around Texas Tech football just got a serious boost. The atmosphere from the Depot District to every tailgating spot has shifted. Plus, the programs increased financial commitment to building the roster signals a sustained effort to stay at the top, a level of consistent success not seen in decades.

One observer noted McGuire jumped "two tiers" after securing Texas Tech's first conference title in decades, permanently altering the program's national standing.