How Texas Tech Went from Rebuild to Playoff Contender in Just Over a Year
Take a moment and let it sink in: Texas Tech is headed to the Orange Bowl.
Thirteen months ago, the Red Raiders were staring down a crossroads. A program in transition, fresh off coordinator shakeups and leaning heavily into the transfer portal and NIL era, was searching for its identity.
Now? They’re Big 12 champions and one of the final four teams standing in the College Football Playoff.
It’s been a whirlwind, and every twist in the road has led to a date with Oregon in Miami.
Let’s rewind and walk through how Texas Tech went from question marks to championship-caliber, step by step.
New Coordinators, New Direction
The first domino fell in early December last year. Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter was out, and Zach Kittley left to take the head coaching job at Florida Atlantic. That opened the door for two key hires who would end up redefining both sides of the ball.
On Dec. 4, Texas Tech brought in Shiel Wood from Houston to take over the defense.
A day later, Mack Leftwich joined from Texas State to lead the offense. Fast forward to now, and both units not only led the Big 12-they cracked the national Top 10 in major statistical categories.
That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen without a clear vision and the right voices guiding the ship.
Jacob Rodriguez Returns-and Dominates
One of the biggest "wins" of last offseason didn’t come from a new face-it came from a familiar one deciding to stay.
On Dec. 5, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez announced he was returning for his final year of eligibility. That decision turned out to be massive.
Rodriguez didn’t just anchor the defense-he owned it. He racked up every major defensive award: the Bednarik, Butkus, Lombardi, and Nagurski.
He even cracked the top five in Heisman voting, a rare feat for a defensive player. Rodriguez was the heartbeat of a unit that defined Texas Tech’s identity all season.
Transfer Portal Strikes Gold
Texas Tech dove headfirst into the transfer portal, and it paid off in a big way. While several key contributors came through, one name stood out above the rest.
On April 4, after Stanford fired head coach Troy Taylor, outside linebacker David Bailey hit the portal. Just four days later, he was practicing in Lubbock.
Bailey turned out to be an absolute game-changer. He led the nation in sacks, earned unanimous All-American honors, and joined Rodriguez as the cornerstone of a fearsome defense.
He also took home Big 12 Defensive Newcomer and Defensive Lineman of the Year honors.
Running Back Depth Tested-and Delivered
The plan was to roll into the season with a dynamic three-headed backfield: USC transfer Quinten Joyner, Cameron Dickey, and J’Koby Williams. But that plan changed quickly when Joyner went down with a season-ending knee injury in mid-August.
Instead of faltering, Dickey and Williams stepped up in a big way. Dickey powered his way to second-team All-Big 12 honors with 1,095 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
Williams added 787 yards and 6 scores on the ground, plus another 371 yards receiving. Together, they gave Texas Tech the kind of backfield balance that kept defenses guessing all year.
Quarterback Carousel, but Morton Holds Steady
Senior quarterback Behren Morton came into the year feeling good about his surgically repaired shoulder. But in the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, he suffered a leg injury that lingered all season.
Despite the setback, Morton stayed on the field and kept winning. He hasn’t lost a game he’s started this year.
Backup Will Hammond stepped in when needed-most notably helping beat Utah-but his season ended with a knee injury against Oklahoma State on Oct. 25.
Through it all, Morton’s poise and leadership proved invaluable.
Skyler Gill-Howard’s Emotional Impact
Not every transfer portal pickup makes headlines, but some make a difference behind the scenes-and on the field. That was the case with defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard, who transferred in from Northern Illinois.
Gill-Howard quickly became a tone-setter for the defense, both emotionally and physically. Unfortunately, his season took a turn when he was leg-whipped during the Oct. 11 game against Kansas.
He underwent ankle surgery a week later and hasn’t played since. Still, his presence helped shape the culture of this defense.
College GameDay Comes to Town
Lubbock hadn’t hosted ESPN’s College GameDay since 2008. That changed this season, and the Red Raiders made the most of the moment.
With Patrick Mahomes back on campus as the guest picker, Texas Tech put on a show, beating BYU 29-7. It wasn’t flashy-five field goals set a program record-but it was dominant. And it sent a message: this team was ready for the big stage.
Joey McGuire Secures the Bag-and the Future
Heading into the season, there was national chatter that if Texas Tech didn’t take a big step forward, head coach Joey McGuire could find himself on the hot seat. Instead, McGuire led the Red Raiders to a 12-1 record, a Big 12 title, and a College Football Playoff berth.
The reward? A contract extension through 2032, with a well-earned raise.
The school also locked up key staffers, including general manager James Blanchard, associate head coach Kenny Perry, and coordinators Wood and Leftwich. The message is clear: Texas Tech is building something for the long haul.
The 2025 Season, Week by Week
Here’s how the Red Raiders got here, one game at a time:
- Aug. 30: Texas Tech 67, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7
- Sept. 6: Texas Tech 62, Kent State 14
- Sept. 13: Texas Tech 45, Oregon State 14
- Sept. 20: Texas Tech 34, Utah 10
- Oct. 4: Texas Tech 35, Houston 11
- Oct. 11: Texas Tech 42, Kansas 17
- Oct. 18: Arizona State 26, Texas Tech 22 (Lone loss of the season)
- Oct. 25: Texas Tech 42, Oklahoma State 0
- Nov. 1: Texas Tech 43, Kansas State 20
- Nov. 8: Texas Tech 29, BYU 7
- Nov. 15: Texas Tech 48, UCF 9
- Nov. 29: Texas Tech 49, West Virginia 0
- Dec. 6: Big 12 Championship - Texas Tech 34, BYU 7
Next Stop: Miami
From coordinator overhauls to transfer portal wins, from a star linebacker’s return to a playoff berth-this has been a season of transformation for Texas Tech. And now, they’re just one game away from playing for a national title.
Oregon awaits in the Orange Bowl. The stage is massive. But if this season has taught us anything, it’s that the Red Raiders are more than ready for the moment.