What Texas Tech’s 2025 Season Means for the Program
Jake’s still processing. He sent me a text at 4 AM that just said “two inches” and nothing else. I’m giving him space.
But somebody’s gotta write about what just happened and what it means for Texas Tech going forward. So here I am — the Oklahoma State fan — giving credit where it’s due.
Putting This Season in Context
Lemme put this simply: Texas Tech just had the best season in modern program history.
11-3. Big 12 Champions. College Football Playoff participants. Top-10 finish in the final rankings.
Go back three years. Joey McGuire was a new hire with big energy and bigger promises. The roster was thin. The culture was broken. Most people — myself included, if I’m being honest — thought it would take five years minimum to get competitive.
It took three.
That ain’t supposed to happen. Rebuilds don’t work that fast. Programs don’t go from irrelevant to playoff-caliber in three seasons. It requires everything to go right — the recruiting, the development, the portal moves, the coaching, the buy-in from players.
Everything went right for Texas Tech this year.
Why the Loss Don’t Diminish Anything
Jake’s hurting because they were so close. I get it. But lemme offer some perspective from someone who don’t have Tech-colored glasses:
Losing to Notre Dame by 3 points in South Bend ain’t a failure. It’s a sign that you belong.
Tech went into a hostile environment, against a top-5 opponent, with their entire program on the line, and they competed. They had the ball with a chance to tie in the final two minutes. They didn’t get embarrassed. They didn’t fold.
Compare that to some other first-round playoff games over the years. Teams getting blown out by 30. Teams that clearly didn’t belong. Tech wasn’t one of those teams.
Jake’s note: I appreciate this, Mike. I really do. But it still hurts like hell. Two inches. TWO INCHES. I’m gonna be thinking about that for the rest of my life.
What’s Coming Back in 2026
Here’s where it gets exciting for Tech fans:
Behren Morton — if he don’t declare for the draft, which he probably shouldn’t — is back. A proven quarterback who just led his team to a conference championship.
Jacob Rodriguez is a junior. Another year of development. Another year of terrorizing offensive lines. According to Sports Reference, he was one of the most productive defensive players in the country this year.
The offensive line returns four starters. The improvement from September to December was remarkable. Another offseason together? That unit could be elite.
The Concern
If I’m being honest — and this might make Jake mad — the concern is sustainability.
Keeping this going is harder than getting here. Other programs are gonna adjust. Coordinators are gonna get poached. Players are gonna transfer. The portal giveth and the portal taketh away.
McGuire’s gotta maintain the culture while also evolving the roster. He’s gotta manage expectations now that the bar is set at “playoff team.” He’s gotta deal with the pressure that comes with success.
None of that’s easy. Programs that reach the mountaintop often struggle to stay there.
But if anyone can do it, McGuire seems like the guy. The energy’s real. The belief’s real. The foundation’s real.
Final Thoughts
Texas Tech lost a football game. They also announced themselves as a legitimate program on the national stage.
Jake will be fine. Eventually. The loss will fade. What won’t fade is the memory of watching Tech win a Big 12 Championship.
The future’s bright in Lubbock. Even an Oklahoma State fan can see that.
— Mike
Jake’s note: Thanks, brother. I hate that you’re right. But thanks.
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