Texas Tech’s Historic Season Ends with CFP Shutout Loss to Oregon - But the Foundation Is Set
LUBBOCK, Texas - It wasn’t the way Texas Tech wanted to ring in the new year. A 23-0 loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl brought the Red Raiders’ season to a grinding halt - and it stung.
Getting blanked on the national stage in their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance wasn’t in the script. But if you zoom out, this season was anything but a disappointment.
Let’s be clear: this was a landmark year for Texas Tech football. The Red Raiders didn’t just sneak into the CFP - they earned it, winning their first outright Big 12 Championship game and punching a ticket to the sport’s biggest stage. That’s not just a footnote in program history; it’s a turning point.
Sure, the Orange Bowl exposed some of the gaps that still exist between the Red Raiders and the nation’s elite. Offensively, Tech never found a rhythm.
Oregon’s defense brought relentless pressure, and the Red Raiders couldn’t counter. Drives stalled, mistakes piled up, and the scoreboard never moved in their favor.
It was a tough watch for the fanbase, and the frustration was loud and clear across social media.
But that frustration is rooted in something deeper - belief. Texas Tech fans have always been loyal, but this season gave them something new: national relevance.
For the first time, the Red Raiders weren’t just playing spoiler or building toward “next year.” They were in the mix.
They were contenders. That’s a shift that doesn’t vanish with one rough night in Miami.
And not everyone is dwelling on the loss. Plenty of fans are taking a step back and appreciating the broader picture.
This is a program that’s long lived in the shadows of its Big 12 rivals, and now it’s got hardware to show for its climb. A conference title.
A playoff berth. A seat at the table.
That matters.
Inside the program, there’s no shortage of pride - or motivation. Texas Tech System Board of Regents chairman Cody Campbell, a major donor and vocal supporter of the team, made it clear he sees this season as a launching pad, not a peak.
And he’s not alone. There’s a sense that something sustainable is being built in Lubbock - not just a one-year run, but a culture that can compete year in and year out.
The 2026 season is already on the horizon, and expectations will be higher than ever. That’s the price of success - but it’s also the reward.
Because now, the bar has been raised. The Red Raiders aren’t just dreaming big anymore.
They’ve shown they belong in the conversation.
The Orange Bowl loss will sting for a while. But in the long run, this season might be remembered not for how it ended, but for what it started.