No. 8 Texas Tech entered the season with lofty expectations of making the College Football Playoff (CFP) after investing heavily in the transfer portal during the offseason.
The opportunity for the Red Raiders to secure a spot in the CFP will likely hinge on the outcome of Saturday’s highly anticipated contest against No. 7 BYU. Following a 26-22 upset loss to Arizona State on October 18, Texas Tech now needs to win the Big 12 championship to guarantee a berth in the playoff. It remains uncertain whether the CFP committee would include two Big 12 programs, even with the talent that the Red Raiders possess.
Before Saturday’s matchup against the Cougars, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire addressed his future with the program during an appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday. McGuire made it clear that he intends to remain with Texas Tech for the duration of his coaching career.
“Man, I’m a Texan. I ain’t never lived anywhere else,” McGuire said. “I was born in Texas, and I’ll die in Texas, and hopefully not anytime soon. But I’m gonna die a Red Raider. I’ll be here for the rest of my life.”
Currently in his fourth year and first stint as a head coach, McGuire holds a 31-17 record at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders stand at 8-1 before Saturday’s game, and a victory over BYU would mark the first time the team has won nine games in a single season under his leadership.
Part of Texas Tech’s appeal to McGuire is the city of Lubbock itself, which he praises as a genuine “college town.”
“This is a true college town. It is built around this university,” McGuire explained. “And so, like, this town is a true college town, and everywhere you go, you’re gonna see the Double T, and there’s a great pride in their football.”
The Red Raiders have not won a conference championship since capturing the Southwest Conference title in 1994 under then-head coach Spike Dykes. Saturday’s game against the Cougars presents a significant opportunity not only to enhance McGuire’s legacy in Lubbock but also to position the program for arguably its best season ever.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/texas-tech-joey-mcguire-future-college-football-news-11014242