Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire among 5 Big 12 coaches named to 2025 preseason watch list

Year four of the Joey McGuire era at Texas Tech has the potential to be a pretty special one. The Red Raiders have been building momentum throughout the first few years of his tenure in Lubbock and have recruited well all throughout the offseason. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about what the Red Raiders might accomplish this season.

And that’s likely why McGuire is among just a handful of Big 12 coaches to be recognized by the Dodd Trophy as they named him to the 2025 Dodd Trophy Watch List. 

McGuire, who compiled an overall record of 23-16 and a Big 12 record of 16-11 through his first three seasons in Lubbock, was among the 26 coaches on the award’s list. Right now, guys like James Franklin at Penn State, Steve Sarkisian at Texas, Kirby Smart at Georgia, Dabo Swinney at Clemson, and Ryan Day at Ohio State are also on the list. 

That’s a pretty decent group for any head coach to be included with.

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire makes it on Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List

The group of Big 12 coaches to make it on the list?

• Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire
• BYU’s Kalani Sitake
• Kansas State’s Chris Klieman
• Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham
• Iowa State’s Matt Campbell

Again, a pretty good group to be included with.

The Red Raiders even put this fancy looking social media graphic together to celebrate the recognition for McGuire:

Obviously the Red Raiders will need to play up to a certain standard this season and they definitely haven’t done that thus far under McGuire’s guidance. He’s got to elevate things this season, but it certainly seems possible for that to happen. 

The Red Raiders got a great transfer portal class, McGuire picked up two young, innovative coordinators who are on the rise in Mack Leftwich and Shiel Wood, and Texas Tech is returning some key contributors like Behren Morton. There’s potential for this season to be a ton of fun for Tech fans.