Texas Tech football is riding high-and now it’s their turn to keep the Red Raider momentum rolling.
Head coach Joey McGuire kicked off his Monday press conference with some well-earned praise for the university’s basketball programs. And why not?
The men’s team just pulled off a dramatic rally to take down No. 3 Duke at Madison Square Garden, while the Lady Raiders followed that up by knocking off No.
15 Baylor. It’s been a banner weekend in Lubbock-and the football team has a chance to make it historic.
Next up: a New Year’s Day showdown in the Orange Bowl against Oregon. Both teams come in at 12-1, and this isn’t just another bowl game-this is a College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
Texas Tech, the No. 4 seed, earned a first-round bye. Oregon, the No. 5 seed, punched its ticket with a 51-34 win over James Madison in Eugene on Saturday night.
“This is going to be a great game, two really good teams,” McGuire said. “I think we're very, very similar whenever you look at our teams, and so I'm looking for a great matchup.”
He’s not wrong. Statistically, these two are mirror images in all the right ways.
Both rank inside the top 11 nationally in scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense, and total defense. Texas Tech, though, has taken it a step further-cracking the top five in each of those categories.
And when it comes to explosive plays, nobody does it better. Oregon leads the nation in plays of 20 yards or more.
Texas Tech is right behind them.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning knows what kind of challenge his Ducks are up against.
“They’ve not just played opponents; they’ve dominated opponents, right?” Lanning said. “To dominate the way they’ve dominated speaks volumes about what kind of team this is, so there’s a ton of respect for them, because they’ve got the winning formula.
“They protect the ball. They attack the ball on defense.
They create explosives on offense. They prevent explosives on defense.
They play really good special teams play. I think all those things show up.”
All 12 of Tech’s wins this season have come by more than 21 points. That’s not just winning-that’s imposing your will every week. And it’s no surprise that NFL scouts are circling this game on their calendars.
According to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., four players on the field in the Orange Bowl are among the top 20 prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft: Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington, along with Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey.
And the depth doesn’t stop there. Oregon has seven more players ranked among the top 10 at their positions, including running back Noah Whittington, left tackle Isaiah World, guard Emannuel Pregnon, right tackle Alex Harkey, cornerback Jadon Canady, safety Dillon Thieneman, and even deep snapper Luke Basso. Add in postseason standouts like linebackers Bryce Boettcher and Teitum Tuioti-Oregon’s top tacklers-and cornerback Brandon Finney, who leads the team in pass breakups, and you’ve got a roster that’s as deep as it is dangerous.
Texas Tech isn’t short on next-level talent either. Beyond Bailey, Kiper has tight end Terrance Carter Jr., defensive tackle Lee Hunter, and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez all ranked among the top 10 prospects at their respective positions.
McGuire knows what he’s up against. Oregon’s offense came out blazing against James Madison, scoring touchdowns on each of its first five possessions. That kind of start can bury a team if they’re not ready.
“They’re very explosive, and you saw that on Saturday,” McGuire said. “We’ve got to do a good job of making them drive the field.”
That’s where the matchup gets especially intriguing. Oregon’s high-powered skill group versus Texas Tech’s punishing front seven might be the best head-to-head battle of any bowl game this year.
The Red Raiders have racked up 39 sacks-tied for sixth in the FBS-and lead the nation with 31 turnovers forced. That’s a defense that doesn’t just get stops; it changes games.
Moore, Oregon’s star quarterback, has already thrown for over 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns this season. He’s a potential No. 1 overall pick for a reason.
But the Ducks don’t rely on him alone. Their trio of backs-Whittington, Jordon Davison, and Dierre Hill Jr.-have combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns, averaging a blistering 7.1 yards per carry.
“Our defensive line has to show up,” McGuire said. “They’ve shown up every week, putting pressure on the quarterback.
This quarterback’s special. ... We’ve got to put some pressure on him, and we’ve got to do a good job of stopping the run to get to do that.”
So here we are: two explosive offenses, two disciplined defenses, and no shortage of NFL-ready talent. It’s a heavyweight clash with a trip to the CFP semifinals on the line. And for Texas Tech, a chance to cap off a red-hot December with the program’s biggest win in decades.
The Red Raiders have been dominant all season. Now it’s time to see if they can do it on the biggest stage yet.