As Texas Tech gears up for its College Football Playoff quarterfinal showdown, head coach Joey McGuire isn’t just preparing his team - he’s tipping his cap to the opponent. And not in a perfunctory, pre-game press conference kind of way. McGuire’s admiration for Oregon runs deep, and he made that clear from the moment he stepped to the podium.
“This is one of those ‘pinch me’ moments,” McGuire said, reflecting on the opportunity to lead his team into the Orange Bowl on January 1. “If you’d told my 13-year-old self I’d be coaching in this game, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
But sentiment quickly gave way to substance. McGuire’s respect for Oregon wasn’t just about the Ducks’ résumé - it was about how they’ve built it.
He sees a program that plays with purpose, prepares with precision, and sustains excellence across seasons and coaching staffs. And in that, he sees a reflection of what he’s building in Lubbock.
“I’m a huge fan of Dan [Lanning],” McGuire said. “I listen to a lot of what he does.
I love what he’s about. He does it right.
He’s great for college football.”
That admiration wasn’t just lip service. McGuire zeroed in on the way Oregon plays - with an edge, with discipline, and with a toughness that mirrors their head coach’s defensive DNA.
“You can tell how much his guys compete,” McGuire said. “They play with an edge. He’s a defensive guy, and that shows up in how they play.”
For McGuire, this isn’t a David vs. Goliath situation.
It’s not about trying to take down a powerhouse - it’s about going toe-to-toe with a program that shares Texas Tech’s values: physicality, depth, and complementary football. In his eyes, this is a matchup of equals, not opposites.
“I think we’re very, very similar when you look at our teams,” he said. “Two really good teams. I’m looking for a great matchup.”
That mindset is central to how Texas Tech is approaching this game. McGuire isn’t selling his players on the idea of pulling off an upset. He’s selling them on the idea of meeting a standard - Oregon’s standard, which he believes looks a lot like Texas Tech’s own.
And that’s where the respect runs even deeper. McGuire pointed to Oregon’s ability to maintain success through multiple coaching changes - something few programs have managed in the modern era of college football.
“They’ve done a great job of hiring coaches,” McGuire said. “And Dan was a slam dunk.”
He also acknowledged what makes Oregon such a draw for players - not just the wins, but the brand, the swagger, and the national appeal that comes with being a Duck.
“They made it cool to be an Oregon Duck,” McGuire said, referencing the program’s iconic uniforms and cultural relevance. “Players love that.”
But behind the flash, McGuire sees something more important: institutional commitment. Oregon has built a machine that doesn’t rely on gimmicks. It runs on alignment, investment, and a refusal to settle for anything less than elite.
“They’ve just done it a little bit longer,” McGuire said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Still, don’t mistake admiration for intimidation. McGuire’s tone wasn’t cautious - it was confident. Not in a chest-thumping way, but in the way that comes from knowing your team is built to compete.
He knows what Oregon brings to the table: a physical defensive front, explosive skill talent, and speed that can flip a game in a heartbeat. But he also knows what Texas Tech brings - and he believes that, player for player, standard for standard, the Red Raiders belong on this stage.
This isn’t about reputation. It’s about execution.
And for Oregon, that’s familiar territory. Under Lanning, the Ducks have carved out a national identity that goes beyond tempo or uniforms.
They’ve become a complete team - physical, disciplined, and dangerous in all three phases. The kind of team that earns respect not with flash, but with fundamentals.
So when a Big 12 champion head coach steps to the mic and says his program mirrors Oregon’s, it says a lot about where the Ducks stand right now. They’re not just admired - they’re emulated.
And as the playoff kicks off, they’re not just a brand. They’re a benchmark.
For Texas Tech, this is more than a game. It’s a measuring stick.
For Oregon, it’s another chance to prove that the program’s foundation is as strong as its reputation. And for fans, it’s a matchup that promises more than hype - it promises a clash between two teams built to win, and built to last.