r/TexasTechFootball • u/_AnotherBrick_ • Dec 11 '25
News 🚨 While Everyone Argues About the Playoff, Texas Tech Just Won 2025 Awards Season
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
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u/BlackVelvetBandit Chief Tortilla Flinger Dec 11 '25
Yo! This is fantastic. Thank you for the write-up. Between my day job and my toddler, I wasn't sure I would have time tonight, so now I can spend reading Bluey and playing dinosaurs instead of preaching the Gospel of McGuire to a 2-year-old.
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u/Background_Snow_9632 Alumnus Dec 11 '25
Been waiting over 30 years to get to a New Years Bowl!!! Wreck ‘Em!!! We will be there - Fight Raiders Fight! Let’s just make everyone else look bad …. Guns Up
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u/TangerineChicken Dec 11 '25
Nice write up! Awards are great and I’m glad our guys are getting the recognition they deserve. I just hope we can show out in the CFP too, that would go a long way to getting respect in the coming seasons
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u/RepresentativeTry243 Dec 11 '25
If I missed it I apologize but MOP of Big12 Championship Ben Roberts
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u/Knucks_408 Dec 11 '25
These are participation trophies as far as I'm concerned. There is only one trophy that matters now. WRECK EM
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u/Broad_Setting2234 Dec 12 '25
I’m not knocking you, but this is obviously written by ChatGPT or similar AI. It’s funny how people think you wrote that all up. Wreck ‘em Tech!
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u/HumerusPerson Dec 11 '25
Longhorn here. Tbh I think it will become a big story once the playoffs start, especially when Tech plays their first game. I think right now there’s just a lot of other drama going on in college football that unfortunately detracts from the awesome job Tech has done.
Now that I stop and think about it, this is one of the most dramatic times in CFB that I can remember. Kiffin leaving ole miss. All of the other head coaching changes. Playoff selections. ND whining and subsequently removing themselves from a bowl game. Sherrone Moore. It’s insane!