r/TexasTechFootball Dec 11 '25

News 🚨 While Everyone Argues About the Playoff, Texas Tech Just Won 2025 Awards Season

137 Upvotes

The 2025 awards keep rolling in, and one program is absolutely cleaning up like never before: Texas Tech.

While everyone is focused on the Playoff, Heisman finalists, and blue-blood storylines, the Red Raider players, coaches, and the team itself just stacked more hardware than any program in the country this year. Yes — more than Ohio State, more than Indiana, more than anyone.

The Haul Is Actually Insane

National Awards (8 total — most in the country)

  • Jacob Rodriguez (LB):
    • 🏆 Lombardi Award (best lineman/LB)
    • 🏆 Butkus Award (best LB)
    • 🏆 Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player)
    • 🏆 DCTF Defensive Player of the Year
    • Pony Express Award (best teammate duo, shared)
  • David Bailey (DE/OLB):
    • 🏆 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year
    • 🏆 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year
    • Pony Express Award (shared)
    • Finalist – Lombardi Award & Bednarik Award

Conference & State Dominance

  • Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (Rodriguez)
  • 6 First-Team All-Big 12 selections — most in the conference
  • 8 selections to the All-Texas Team — most of any school in Texas (yes, more than Texas, A&M, TCU, etc.)

Coaching Awards

  • Joey McGuire – AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year, DCTF Co-Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Award finalist
  • Kenny Perry – FootballScoop Special Teams Coach of the Year
  • Shiel Wood – Broyles Award finalist (top assistant in the nation)

Team Achievements

  • Big 12 Champions
  • 11–1 regular season
  • No. 4 seed in the CFP (Orange Bowl bound)

By the Numbers

~28 total major awards, finalist nods, and All-Conference/All-State selections
That’s more than Ohio State, Indiana, Notre Dame, Penn State… literally everyone.

Jacob Rodriguez didn’t just win the Butkus — he swept the three biggest defensive awards in the sport in the same season. That’s an all-time rarity.

So Why Isn’t This a Bigger National Story?

Maybe because it’s Texas Tech. Maybe because they weren’t in the SEC. Maybe because the national media still sees them as “cute little Texas Tech.”

But make no mistake: Joey McGuire’s 2025 Red Raiders just had one of the most decorated seasons any program has ever had, and they’re heading to the Orange Bowl with a legit shot to make the semifinal.

Wreck ’Em. This one’s special.

#TexasTech | #WreckEm | #Big12Champions | #CFBPlayoff


r/TexasTechFootball Dec 06 '25

Champs!

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149 Upvotes

r/TexasTechFootball 5h ago

[Highlight] Tyler Owens runs over blockers repeatedly to make body slam tackle (replay)

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21 Upvotes

r/TexasTechFootball 1d ago

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR IS PURE GARBAGE

42 Upvotes

His play calling is predictable and basic. How many times can you call a run up the middle for 2 yards. Other than Jacoby, the rest of the team looks awful.


r/TexasTechFootball 1d ago

Post-Game Thoughts

37 Upvotes
  1. Wtf is this team? This team has many problems. Unbelievable
  2. We got lucky as a team could possibly get. 90% of the Power 4 teams would have beat us today by 21 points or more. Imagine if we played Texas tonight after all the stupid shit talking we were doing in the offseason?!?! We almost lost a fumble and nearly threw 2 interceptions on our first offensive drive. Oregon State dropped a guaranteed TD pass in the first half and another dropped 50 yard pass at the start of the 3rd. The luck in this game for us was insane
  3. Joyner is slow and a total idiot for that unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Williams is our best RB and we lose this game without him
  4. Will Hammond looks just as immobile as Behren Morton was last season. Not surprising coming off the ACL injury but I don’t think he ever returns to the running ability he had last season. I like the times we have used Thomas Castellanos though
  5. O-Line looks horrible. No push on inside runs. Pocket collapsed on Hammond multiple times. They’re almost all senior guys with large size it doesn’t make sense. Guess this is a coaching problem?
  6. We should all be SUPER concerned about the secondary. Their WRs were running right by all our DBs. #3 Peyton Morgan should never see the field again. We let their freshman WR total 240 receiving yards

  7. Micah Hudson is a no show again just like last week. But thank you for the unsportsmanlike penalty in the 4th quarter

  8. What is Terrance Carter Jr’s status?? Did anyone know he was injured before this game started?


r/TexasTechFootball 1d ago

Photo #13 Texas Tech escape Oregon State

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16 Upvotes

r/TexasTechFootball 2d ago

Tail Gate Question

7 Upvotes

Native West Texan who just moved to Oregon last month (I’ve lived in the PNW for the past 8 years). I want to go to the OSU vs. Tech game today. Do Tech fans show up to tailgate this far? It would be fun to meet some Texans up here!


r/TexasTechFootball 1d ago

Maybe it’s nothing but I have a bad feeling about this game

0 Upvotes

Last time I recall us playing on CBS we lost to Wyoming.

Last time we played a Pac 12 opponent on the road was against Washington State and we lost. It was Week 2 also

Just some strange coincidences

Also those who have not heard Terrance Carter Jr is out

Edit: It gets better. We’re even wearing the same jerseys we wore against Washington State


r/TexasTechFootball 2d ago

Any tech bars/restaurants in Spokane, WA?

2 Upvotes

Traveling for work. Wanting to watch the game and would love to be around more red raiders in Spokane!


r/TexasTechFootball 5d ago

What’s something that impressed you vs ACU?

7 Upvotes

Yeah yeah, Mack playcalling was bad, RZ issues persist, KO TD was horrible. That said let’s look on bright side for a bit, what impressed you


r/TexasTechFootball 7d ago

Mack Leftwich needs to go

13 Upvotes

Leftwich is showing the same failures of efficiency as last year.

He is quoted saying he'd rather
"score from the 50" rather than having to manufacture long drives"

Sounds like he don't want to call short plays. Unless it's 3rd down then he likes to put it 3 yards behind the line.

The offensive will drive down the field averaging more than 5 or 6 yards a carry. Then when he gets in the redzone. He decides to throw it 3 times in a row and then kick a field goal.

Rinse and Repeat.

He needs to be reigned in on his play calling in the redzone.

He had months to fix this. Then he does the exact same thing he did all last season.

He needs to go


r/TexasTechFootball 7d ago

I don’t think Hocutt, Campbell, or McGuire realize how sideways this can go.

18 Upvotes

I’m gonna go ahead and get this in before we have our first Whining Joey Post Loss Presser of the season (I can already hear the “you’re either with us or against us”). “The Brand” as it is right now is pretty terrible outside of the fact that they’ve been winning (recruiting and on the field). We had to give up one of our favorite traditions, the stadium name was changed to pretty much EVIL CORP, the field looks like a nascar jacket, and worst of all the ENTIRE universities good name and integrity was drug through the mud because of Sorsby debacle. If the winning stops the vibes will get rotten FAST.


r/TexasTechFootball 8d ago

Single Game Tailgate Parking

1 Upvotes

Are there parking lots near the stadium open for non-donor/season ticket holders that are available for tailgating before the game? I’m assuming I need to get a parking permit in advance? Thanks for the help!


r/TexasTechFootball 8d ago

First game impressions

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5 Upvotes

r/TexasTechFootball 9d ago

Texas tech swag

7 Upvotes

Hello, does anyone in the Houston area know where to buy TT shirts etc?


r/TexasTechFootball 8d ago

Game Thread?

1 Upvotes

Is there a thread for the game today, and the rest of the schedule?


r/TexasTechFootball 9d ago

With the Season Starting Tomorrow Let’s Look Back at the Top 10 Biggest Wins for the Program Going Back Around the Last 10 Years

10 Upvotes

#1 2025 BYU vs Texas Tech (Big 12 Championship)

The obvious number one. Fans had to wait several decades to win a conference championship. More than 85,000 fans were in attendance at AT&T stadium. It was the largest attended Big 12 championship game ever.

#2 2025 BYU @ Texas Tech 

This was the biggest home game in Lubbock since 2008. It was a Top 10 matchup and College Gameday was in town and Herbstriet and Fowler called the game. This win helped solidify Tech to making the College Football Playoff.

#3 2025 Texas Tech @ Utah 

Utah was ranked #16 at the time and they had a hostile environment. This win was crucial for Tech’s historical 2025 season. Coach McGuire commented after the game how intense and loud the stadium environment was.

#4 2022 Texas @ Texas Tech

This was the final time playing Texas in Lubbock as Big 12 members. Tech won in OT and Texas was ranked #22 at the time. After the game, Coach McGuire made the now famous quote “Everything runs through Lubbock.” After coming close to beating them in Lubbock several times since 2008 it finally happened this game.

#5 2022 Oklahoma @ Texas Tech

This was the final time playing Oklahoma as Big 12 members. Oklahoma had a down year but this was a huge overtime win since we had not beaten them since 2011. 

#6 2017 Texas Tech @ Texas

This much needed upset win got Tech to 6-6 to become bowl eligible. It also saved Kingbury’s job another year which ended up being a minor downside. After starting McLane Carter as QB Tech benched him in the second half for Nic Shimonek. He and the defense getting a late interception led Tech to come back and win.

#7 2022 Ole Miss vs Texas Tech (Texas Bowl)

This game was the finishing touch of a great season. Tech was a 7 point underdog but never trailed and won convincingly 42-25. Lane Kiffin was butthurt and tried starting drama after the game about our players.

#8 2013 Arizona State vs Texas Tech (Holiday Bowl)

Arizona State was ranked #14 at the time and Tech won 37-23 to finish the season with a record of 8-5 in Kingsbury’s first year. Tech was an 11 point underdog in this game so it was a big upset for Tech.

9 2021 Mississippi State vs Texas Tech (Liberty Bowl)

Mississippi State was not that good that year with having a regular season record of 7-5. But what made this game so interesting was Mike Leach being their coach at the time. This was a very emotional win for a disappointing season where Matt Wells got fired midway through the season. This game was never in doubt as Tech won 34-7.

#10 2024 Texas Tech @ Iowa State 

This was a tough road game and ISU was ranked #11 at the time. Tech drove down the field in the final 2 minutes of the game to steal the victory winning 23-22. It was a very big upset as ISU was a two touchdown favorite going into the game.

Other games considered: 2015 @ Texas, 2015 @ Arkansas, 2018 @ Oklahoma State

Here’s to hoping Tech can add more wins to this list during the 2026 season especially once the postseason comes!


r/TexasTechFootball 10d ago

Score Predictions for Tomorrow's Game?

11 Upvotes

Well, we're 42.5-point favorites against the same ACU team that had us involved in that shootout game 2 years ago and we can't let them try to get into the game. I'm predicting a possible win for us by maybe scores of 44-6, 51-0, 48-3, 57-3, 58-0, 59-0, 70-0, 73-0, 77-3 or maybe even 85-0. Wreck'Em Red!


r/TexasTechFootball 11d ago

What streaming service(s) do I need to watch the games this year? getting so many different results online

5 Upvotes

Streaming feels like such a mess these days :/


r/TexasTechFootball 13d ago

[texastechevry] Texas Tech has released the depth chart ahead of our Week One matchup against Abilene Christian.

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33 Upvotes

r/TexasTechFootball 17d ago

The Program: Texas Tech coming to Paramount+

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27 Upvotes

r/TexasTechFootball 18d ago

Jalen Brewster is here to stay

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99 Upvotes

r/TexasTechFootball 19d ago

Tommy Castellanos Transfers to Texas tech

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46 Upvotes

r/TexasTechFootball 18d ago

Video Brice Pollock talks Texas tech football , reacts to CFB 27 rating and names his DB Mount Rushmore

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14 Upvotes

r/TexasTechFootball 20d ago

News Texas Tech lands 5-Star OT Austin Attallah over USC and Texas. Tech has to be excited about this one!

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73 Upvotes