Rolling into the fourth year of the Joey McGuire era of Texas Tech football, the Red Raiders are currently in the middle of a very interesting offseason.
We’re talking about an offseason that has seen Texas Tech pick up a number of talented transfer portal additions, snag a defensive coordinator away from the Houston Cougars and then pick up an offensive coordinator away from the Texas State Bobcats.
This offseason has been very odd in very many ways. Partially because of all of that change, but also because Texas Tech has very clearly invested a ton of money into the roster and the coaching staff and expects to compete at a higher level moving forward.
And while Texas Tech might have those expectations, it’s interesting to see what the expectations outside of Lubbock look like right now. Because if you check in with ESPN’s Football Power Index, you’ll find the Red Raiders sitting smack dab in the middle of the Big 12 (which is always chaotic and competitive in the weirdest ways).
And there’s no way that’s where Texas Tech wants to be right now or by the time this season comes to a close.
Texas Tech ranks at No. 7 in Big 12, according to 2025 preseason ESPN FPI rankings
Here’s how the Big 12 stacks up right now, according to ESPN’s FPI rankings:
- Kansas State Wildcats
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- BYU Cougars
- Kansas Jayhawks
- TCU Horned Frogs
- Baylor Bears
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- UCF Knights
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Utah Utes
- Colorado Buffaloes
- Cincinnati Bearcats
- West Virginia Mountaineers
- Oklahoma State Cowboys
- Arizona Wildcats
- Houston Cougars
The FPI projections have the Red Raiders winning around eight games this season, which would be decent, but that would certainly keep Texas Tech in the middle of the conference and I suspect McGuire and the Red Raiders have higher aspirations than that.
But TTU will have to compete with some pretty interesting teams along the way. Take Arizona State, for example. Kenny Dillingham has very quickly elevated that program and the Red Raiders will meet up with them again this season, this time in Tempe. That game could certainly be an indicator for what Texas Tech’s ceiling is this year.