Lubbock is buzzing right now, and honestly, it’s not just because the wind finally died down for five minutes. If you’ve been following the latest news Texas Tech football fans are obsessing over, you know the program just capped off a wild 12-2 season that saw them lift a Big 12 Championship trophy. Sure, that 23-0 thud against Oregon in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day stung. Losing a College Football Playoff quarterfinal in a shutout is never the way you want to go out. But if you think Joey McGuire is sitting around moping about a bad night in Miami, you haven't been paying attention to the absolute tear this staff is on in the transfer portal.
The vibe around the Jones AT&T Stadium is different these days. It’s a mix of "we belonged there" and "we’re never getting shut out again."
The Brendan Sorsby Era Begins
The biggest piece of news Texas Tech football junkies are dissecting is the arrival of Brendan Sorsby. The former Cincinnati dual-threat quarterback didn't just commit; he basically became the face of the 2026 roster overnight. He’s already been on billboards in Times Square.
Think about why this matters. Behren Morton was a warrior, but playing through that injury late in the year clearly limited what the offense could do against elite speed. Sorsby brings a different dimension. He’s a guy who can actually scramble for 300 yards in a season and force missed tackles. When the pocket collapsed against Oregon, there was nowhere to go. With Sorsby, there’s a "break glass in case of emergency" athleticism that gives offensive coordinator Zach Kittley a lot more room to breathe.
He’s a big kid, too—6'3" and 235 pounds. He isn't just a runner; he's a punisher at the goal line. Honestly, the Big 12 is going to hate seeing him in short-yardage situations.
Reloading the "Brand" on Defense
Losing Jacob Rodriguez is a massive hole. He was the heartbeat of that defense. But McGuire didn't waste time feeling sorry for himself. He went out and snagged Austin Romaine from Kansas State.
Romaine is a guy who's already played nearly 1,400 snaps in this conference. He knows how the Big 12 works. He had a 90.3 PFF grade in 2024, which is basically elite territory. He’s a "green dot" type of player who can call the defense. While Tech’s defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter usually likes that communication coming from a safety, having Romaine’s brain in the middle of the field is huge for a unit that needs to replace a ton of production.
Then you have the "San Diego State Connection." Trey White is a name you need to learn quickly.
- Trey White (EDGE): 19.5 sacks in three seasons. That’s insane production.
- Bryce Butler (DL): A 6'5", 320-pound monster from Washington.
- Davin Martin (CB): A rangy 6'2" corner from UTSA who adds much-needed length.
White and Butler together? That’s a lot of specialized muscle coming off the bus. White was the Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for a reason. He’s got that high-motor, "disruptor" energy that McGuire loves to call "The Brand."
Joey McGuire Isn't Going Anywhere
One of the most stabilizing pieces of news Texas Tech football followers received lately was the contract extension for McGuire. The school locked him down through 2032.
It’s a seven-year deal that pushes his pay to about $6.5 million next year. For a long time, Tech felt like a stepping stone or a place where coaches came to plateau. Not anymore. Kirby Hocutt, the Athletic Director, made it clear: 11-1 regular seasons and Top-5 CFP rankings aren't supposed to be one-off flukes. They’re the new baseline.
McGuire has won 24 conference games in four seasons. That’s the most in the Big 12 over that span. Basically, he’s turned Lubbock into a destination.
What the 2026 Schedule Looks Like
The path back to the playoffs won't be a cakewalk. We already know some of the key dates.
The Red Raiders open up at home against Abilene Christian on September 5th. Then, things get spicy. A trip to Corvallis to play Oregon State on September 12th will be an early litmus test. Oregon State isn't the same team they used to be, but that’s a long flight and a tough environment.
The Big 12 slate includes some absolute grinders:
- A trip to the "Bouldering" hype of Colorado.
- A massive home game against Arizona.
- The usual slugfest with Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
- Rivalry games against TCU and Baylor.
People sort of forget that the Big 12 is wide open now. Without Texas and Oklahoma, Tech has proven they can bully their way to the top. Winning 12 games in 2025 wasn't a fluke; they beat BYU twice, once in the regular season and once in the title game. They’ve established they can handle the physical teams in this league.
Why People Get Tech Wrong
The national media loves to look at Tech and talk about "Air Raid" or "points-a-minute" football. That’s old news. This 2026 version of the Red Raiders is being built on the defensive line.
Look at the transfer haul again. Jojo Johnson from Oregon State, Julien Laventure from Akron, and Mateen Ibirogba from Wake Forest. These are all big, physical bodies. McGuire is obsessed with winning the line of scrimmage. He knows that to beat the Oregons and Georgias of the world, you can't just out-scheme them with wide receivers. You have to be able to hit them in the mouth.
Honestly, the biggest misconception is that Tech is just a "spoiler" team. Last season proved they are a "contender" team. They were the hunted, not the hunter, for most of the year, and they still finished 12-2.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Season
If you’re a fan looking to keep up or a bettor watching the lines, here is what you need to do to stay ahead of the curve.
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- Watch the Spring Game closely: Keep an eye on the chemistry between Brendan Sorsby and wide receivers like Donte Lee Jr. (the Liberty transfer). Lee is 6'3" and can fly. If that deep ball connection is there early, this offense will be scary.
- Monitor the injury report for Austin Romaine: He’s coming off a season-ending injury at K-State. If he’s 100% by August, the defense won’t skip a beat. If he’s limited, Tech might have to rely on some younger, unproven linebackers.
- Check the defensive line rotation: Tech signed 12 transfers as of early January. A lot of those are big men. See who emerges as the primary pass rusher opposite Trey White.
- Lock in season tickets early: Jones AT&T Stadium is going to be sold out basically every week. The momentum from the Big 12 title hasn't faded, and the demand is at an all-time high.
The era of Texas Tech being "just another team" in West Texas is over. With a locked-in coach, a 5-star transfer QB, and a defensive line that looks like an NFL factory, the 2026 season is shaping up to be another run at the College Football Playoff. The Orange Bowl loss was a lesson, but the recruiting trail shows that the Red Raiders took that lesson personally.