LAS VEGAS — Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire knows how to finish a season — it’s starting as season that has stymied them to this point.
But, McGuire hopes it something they can erase this year.
“We’ve got a great opportunity to get started on a fast note and we need to do that this year,” McGuire said.
The Red Raiders won four of their last five games in 2023 and that’s been a trend for the Red Raiders under McGuire. In fact, he knows the numbers as well as you do.
“We’re 8-2 in November and December games and we’ve got to continue to do that because we have some really tough road games late in the season,” McGuire said.
The problem is that Texas Tech went 3-5 in its first eight games of the regular season. The Red Raiders had a similarly slow start in 2022, McGuire’s first season.
“That’s the question that we’ve been searching throughout the offseason because you know we played well at home,” McGuire said.
McGuire believes that the team’s culture is going to help in a critical third season in which there is an opportunity for the Red Raiders to vault into the race to get to the Big 12 Championship Game.
“We have a really healthy locker room,” he said. “Our guys love each other, care about each other and they’ll step in and keep playing for each other so I think that’s a big part of it.”
Texas Tech is coming off a 7-6 season with a 5-4 record in the Big 12. The Red Raiders beat Cal in the Independence Bowl.
TTU only has four returning starters on offense, but two of the most important are quarterback Behren Morton and running back Tahj Brooks. Brooks rushed for more than 1,500 yards and does not get the attention he deserves nationally.
The Red Raiders revamped the offensive line with transfers, lured Washington State wide receiver Josh Kelly through the portal and expect to get five-star recruit Micah Hudson the football in the passing game.
Only three starters are back on defense for Texas Tech. Linebacker Ben Roberts was a freshman All-American and led Tech in tackles. He’ll have Jacob Rodriguez beside him after he dealt with injuries last season. Many of this year’s starters will either be transfers or young players the coaching staff has developed.
Rice transfer De’Braylon Carroll is worth watching against the run, an area Tech struggled against last season.
Texas Tech will play five of its first seven games at home, something McGuire is excited about given the Red Raiders’ toughness at home. TTU hosts Abilene Christian on Aug. 31 in a revamped AT&T Jones Stadium to open the season. Next is a trip to Washington State on Sept. 7, followed by a non-conference home finale against North Texas on Sept. 14.
Tech starts Big 12 play with two home games on Sept. 21 against Arizona State and Sept. 28 against Cincinnati.
The Red Raiders play three league games in October — a road trip to Arizona on Oct. 5, a home contest against Baylor on Oct. 19 and a road game at TCU on Oct. 26.
Texas Tech starts November with a trip to Iowa State on Nov. 2. After hosting Colorado on Nov. 9, the Red Raiders travel to Oklahoma State on Nov. 23 before hosting West Virginia on Nov. 30 to end the regular season.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
