A former player returns home to Texas Tech once again.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire needed to replace his offensive line coach after it was announced that Stephen Hamby would not return to Lubbock for a third year.
The Red Raiders opted to look to the past with their next hire as they pegged a Mike Leach disciple as the next offensive line coach for the Red and Black. Clay McGuire, no relation to Joey, returns home to once again take over the reins of the offensive line. McGuire last coached for Tech under Kliff Kingsbury in the 2018-19 season.
McGuire played under the legendary head coach Mike Leach with the Red Raiders before joining the staff as an intern and eventually becoming the running backs coach for the pirate.
McGuire also coached at East Carolina on Lincoln Riley’s offensive staff as well as with Leach at Washington State. He leaves the latest tenure with the Cougars to return to his alma mater.
The Red Raiders offensive line could use some help up front and it was clear that Hamby wasn’t having the same success he did at Western Kentucky under Zach Kittley.
These are the best games to check out in the Big 12 on Saturday.
The Big 12 is one of the deepest basketball conferences in the country with five teams ranked in the top 25 of the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll.
It certainly makes for some interesting basketball in conference play. You can add that Texas, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, and Texas Tech are all worthy of being ranked as well. Welcome to the murderer’s row of basketball.
With the college football season finished, eyes are coming back to the hardwood just in time for the run to March. On Saturday, there are plenty of games in the Big 12 to keep an eye on but here are the best ones.
No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners at No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks
NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Oklahoma Sooners and Kansas Jayhawks are both coming off disappointing losses for different reasons. The TCU Horned Frogs were able to take down OU thanks to the Sooners’ inability to score consistently in an 80-71 loss. Oklahoma trailed 78-61 with under two minutes to go but only managed a 10-2 run to cut the lead to nine before the final buzzer. On the other hand, Kansas built a nice first half lead at 35-19 with under four minutes to go. The Knights outscored the Jayhawks 46-25 over the next 24 minutes of basketball.
Who will get off the snide and avoid back-to-back losses just three games into Big 12 play? Tune in for the game at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
No. 2 Houston Cougars at TCU Horned Frogs
Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
The aforementioned TCU Horned Frogs will host the No. 2 team in the country in the early evening hours. The Houston Cougars are coming off their first loss of the season to a stingy Iowa State squad. The Cougars have averaged 75.3 points per game but were held to 22 points under that number by the Cyclones’ defense. They forced Houston to turn the ball over 16 times in that game. On the other side, you have a TCU squad that is coming off the upset victory of No. 3 Kansas, can they keep it going against No. 2 Houston? The plan should be the same as the Oklahoma matchup, keep your turnovers to a minimum while forcing the Cougs into making mistakes.
Does TCU get another huge win or does Houston rebound? Tune into that game at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Bonus Game: Kansas State Wildcats at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Olivia Raymond/For the Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jerome Tang (Kansas State) and Grant McCasland (Texas Tech) were longtime assistants for Scott Drew at Baylor, now they are adversaries. On Saturday, Texas Tech looks to extend their longest winning streak in the conference to 9 games. They are 2-0 in conference play after knocking off Texas and Oklahoma State. Kansas State is also 2-0 after wins over UCF and West Virginia.
Which team stays unbeaten in Big 12 play? Tune in at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2
Former Southwest Conference, Big 12 rivals Texas A&M and Texas Tech announced a home-and-home series starting in 2024. The two teams will meet at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, for the 2024 season. In 2025 the two will tip off from Reed Arena in College Station.
The Red Raiders announced the series in a press release on Tuesday.
“I think this is a big part of what makes college basketball so great,” TTU men’s basketball head coach Grant McCasland said in the release. “To have a series between historic rivals is important to continue. We are thrilled about the opportunity to compete against the Aggies and know that this will benefit our team and schedule. I know the environment at United Supermarkets Arena will be elite. Our fans will love to be a part of this game next year.”
Overall, Texas Tech is 64-61 against Texas A&M dating back to 1953. They last faced off in the 2011-12 season where the Aggies swept the Red Raiders in the regular season.
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It was quite a day for Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire and his staff after they signed a top-25 class. The only class among the best teams in the country for the Big 12.
The Red Raiders inked a pretty eye-opening group thanks in large part to five-star wide receiver Micah Hudson, the highest-rated signee in program history. Hudson will be expected to immediately impact a passing game that ranked last in the Big 12 in yards per attempt and interceptions during the regular season. Beyond Hudson, the class is defined by geography: All but one of Texas Tech’s 21 signees as of Wednesday afternoon came from inside the state, with other standouts including offensive lineman Ellis Davis and four-star quarterback Will Hammond.
Hudson was the first-ever five-star player to sign with Texas Tech since ranking prospects started in 2000. He is a dynamic weapon and he will be among the early enrollees along with quarterback Will Hammond.
When discussing the losers of early signing day, Myerberg pointed to the rest of the Big 12.
Texas Tech’s signing class hovered around the top 25 nationally but ranks as the best group in the Big 12, according to 247 with TCU, Central Florida and Kansas coming next. In comparison, the ACC had four, the Big Ten had six and the SEC had a whopping 13 classes ranked in the top 25. The already measurable talent gap between the league and the rest of the Power Four will only grow after signing day.
The Red Raiders capped off the 2023 season with a win over California in the Independence Bowl to finish with a winning record for the second straight season. Something that hasn’t happened since Mike Leach roamed the sidelines in Lubbock, Texas.
After finishing 15-11 in his first two seasons with the Red Raiders, the real test will come in year 3 as Tech looks to take control of the new look Big 12. They will have plenty of competition with Arizona and Utah coming in along with Arizona State and Colorado.
The Texas Tech duo announced their new destinations on Monday.
On Monday former Red Raider wide receivers Jerand Bradley and Myles Price both announced where they would play next. The duo will be heading in different directions as Bradley heads to the ACC and Price is Big Ten bound.
Price has spent the last four seasons with Texas Tech, this past year was his most productive from a touchdown standpoint. He hauled in 161 receptions for 1,751 yards and 10 touchdowns. In his first two seasons, he was also used as a runner with 26 attempts for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Price will now join an Indiana Hoosiers squad that recently hired former James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti to run the program. Price should have ample opportunity to show what he can bring to an offense that is in desperate need of playmakers. Indiana finished 3-9 this past year which caused them to move in a new direction with the firing of Tom Allen following the season.
Bradley announced that he would be on his way to join the Boston College Eagles in 2024. Bradley joined the Red Raiders as part of the 2021 recruiting class. He showed flashes as a freshman in 2021 and was a bigger part of the offense in his redshirt freshman season of 2022. That role seemed to lessen this past season.
Bradley hauled in 92 passes for 1,274 yards, and 10 touchdowns during his three-year stint with Texas Tech. Most of his production came in 2022, the first year under head coach Joey McGuire. Bradley will give BC a legitimate threat on the perimeter. The Eagles finished the regular season with a 6-6 record under head coach Jeff Hafley.
The Red Raiders did add some talent of their own this transfer portal cycle with former Florida Gators wide receiver Caleb Douglas and former Washington State Cougars wide receiver Josh Kelly. Not to mention they will add five-star signee Micah Hudson, who is ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of Texas according to 247Sports composite rankings.
The Red Raiders held California scoreless for the final three quarters and scored 27 unanswered points to cruise to a 34-14 victory.
Texas Tech cruised to a 34-14 victory over California in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl behind an empowered offense and an opportunistic defense.
The Golden Bears offense was powered by running back Jaydn Ott this season, a First Team All-Pac-12 nominee. He finished the regular season averaging 114.6 yards per game, the seventh-best mark in the nation, but despite an early touchdown, the Red Raiders defense stifled him to just 45 yards on 16 carries.
On the offensive side of the ball, sophomore quarterback Behren Morton threw for 256 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. All three of his touchdown passes came in the first 21 minutes of the game, including a go-tying 15-yard score to Mason Tharp and a go-ahead touchdown pass to Loic Fouonji in the early second quarter. Texas Tech never surrendered the lead again.
Despite a touchdown pass in the opening minute of the game, California quarterback Fernando Mendoza made too many costly mistakes in the second half. With Texas Tech leading and Ott unable to get going downhill, the Golden Bears quarterback threw an interception on the first drive of the third quarter. He threw two more before the game was over and even coughed up a fumble, turning the ball over four times in seven second-half drives.
With the California offense unable to get off the ground, the Red Raiders cruised to an easy victory. Running back Tahj Brooks punched his way into the end zone in the third quarter, the highlight of a 98-yard performance. Texas Tech scored the game’s final 27 points, and the California offense didn’t score after the first quarter ended.
Here are the best photos from the Texas Tech victory.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders received a massive bump for next season. Star running back Tahj Brooks announced that he would return for his fifth season in Lubbock on Monday morning.
Brooks is coming off the most productive season of his career with a bowl game left to play on Saturday against California. He rushed for 1,443 yards with 9 touchdowns during the regular season. According to Pro Football Focus, Brooks also led the nation in missed tackles forced (91) and finished fourth in yards after contact.
Brooks’ breakout season began in 2022 during the Texas Bowl, where he rushed for 6.4 yards per attempt against the Ole Miss Rebels. The lead runner for Tech rushed for over 100 yards in eight of the final 10 games of the regular season.
Bryson Donnell will likely fill the void of backup running back for Texas Tech in their bowl matchup. He has seen limited action as a redshirt freshman this season. Donnell carried the ball just four times for 15 yards.
Jalin Conyers amassed 846 yards and six touchdowns across three seasons with the Sun Devils, including a three-touchdown game against Colorado last year.
The former Sun Devil has one year of eligibility remaining, according to his announcement when he entered the portal. He compiled 846 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 74 receptions in his three years with Arizona State.
His best season with the Sun Devils came in 2022 when he caught 38 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games. He exploded against Colorado with six receptions for 108 catches and three touchdowns in a single game.
The former Oregon and Texas Tech QB will enter the portal once again.
After three injury-riddled seasons with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, quarterback Tyler Shough has made a decision regarding his future. Shough has been injured since the West Virginia game during Week 4.
It was the third time in as many seasons that the former four-star quarterback had missed time with Texas Tech. After joining the team in 2021 as a transfer from the Oregon Ducks, Shough missed time with a broken collarbone. He would miss time in 2022 with an injured shoulder in the opener that cost him six more games. Shough returned to lead Tech to the Texas Bowl, which the Red Raiders won 42-25.
Shough shared the following message on social media.
this is a letter I never planned to write as I have such a deep gratitude for West Texas and the entire support this football program has provided. The people of Lubbock and within the athletic department have reignited my love for football welcomed my family with open arms, and helped me persevere through some of the most difficult times. I do not believe freak injuries are accidents or hindrances, but lessons God teaches you. I am extremely grateful for the bonds and memories shared and for the fact that I can forever proudly call myself a graduate of Texas Tech University.
Though I wish my time here could have been different, I believe everything happens for a reason and that hard work will prevail. It is in my best interest to enter the transfer portal and look for a new opportunity to play a full year and pursue my goal of being an NFL QB.
The team will look to Behren Morton, who has won five of his six starts this season. He has accounted for 15 touchdowns this season. The Red Raiders will add Will Hammond, the highly-touted four-star quarterback who competed in the Elite 11, in their 2024 recruiting class.
Remembering the legendary head coach and his time at Texas Tech.
On Wednesday night I heard the news about the legendary basketball coach Bob Knight and his passing, there were some emotions I didn’t really expect. As a fan of the Texas Rangers, I was trying to enjoy the moment of their first World Series championship. Once the game ended I thought about Knight’s time at Texas Tech.
As a teenager in Lubbock, Texas, I enjoyed the early 2000s as a fan of Texas Tech athletics. Two very polarizing head coaches were on campus at the time with Mike Leach running the football program and Bob Knight putting his stamp on the basketball program. For someone who never had the opportunity to sit down with Coach Leach or Coach Knight, their passings still had quite an impact on me. Leach gave me a love for Air Raid offenses and Knight gave me a love for passionate basketball.
Bob Knight wasn’t always easy to get along with from what I have heard from others in the industry, but for those of us who attended games at the United Supermarkets Arena, we were mostly fond of him. He after all led us to four NCAA Tournament appearances during his time and one of his assistants, Chris Beard, came close to bringing the first national championship to Lubbock in men’s basketball.
Despite all that he did on the basketball court, my favorite memory of Bob Knight didn’t come on the hardwood. On the night of his passing, I remembered a moment that was 15 years prior to the day. It was on the morning before the Texas vs Texas Tech football game when Michael Crabtree gave Red Raider fans a moment we still cherish.
That morning on College Gameday, Knight was the guest picker and I couldn’t help but laugh and cheer along with all those Red Raider fans who gathered to see Tech finally get to host the weekly event.
Rest in peace coach. As we remember the legendary coach, here are several photos from his time on the Plains of West Texas.
