Texas Tech

Continuity on the coaching staff gives him a useful starting point. Texas Tech lists Mack Leftwich as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Shiel Wood as defensive coordinator and inside-linebackers coach, and Rob Greene as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Keeping that structure matters because the Red Raiders can teach new players within established systems rather than asking a reshaped roster to learn a new identity. The question is whether familiar schemes can speed up the development of unfamiliar combinations.

The quarterback competition will shape everything Leftwich does. The roster retrieved Aug. 3 lists Will Hammond, Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis, Holden Phillips, Lloyd Jones III and freshman Stephen Cannon. Hammond and Francis are the two listed quarterbacks with meaningful college-game context, but no starter has been established. Whoever replaces Behren Morton inherits a system that averaged 39.4 points and 461.4 yards per game in Leftwich’s first Texas Tech season, produced 93 gains of at least 20 yards and became the Big 12’s only offense with both 3,500 passing yards and 2,500 rushing yards. The framework works; the new quarterback must operate it without turning transition into limitation.

Texas Tech can reduce that burden by leaning on Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams. Leftwich’s official profile says both topped 800 rushing yards in 2025, with Dickey producing 1,124 yards and a Big 12-leading 14 rushing touchdowns. Mike Craven also reported that left tackle Howard Sampson, center Sheridan Wilson and right guard Jacob Ponton return after starting in 2025. That combination gives the Red Raiders proven ball carriers, experience at the protection’s two most important communication points and a credible way to keep the offense on schedule while the passing game settles.

Tight end Terrance Carter Jr., a preseason All-Big 12 selection, can become an important matchup target for the new quarterback. Receiver Coy Eakin supplies another veteran presence, while additions Donte Lee Jr., Kenny Johnson and Jalen Jones enter a receiving room whose rotation is still taking shape. Carter and Eakin were among the six seniors McGuire brought to Big 12 Media Days, joining Wilson, defensive tackle A.J. Holmes Jr., linebacker Ben Roberts and cornerback Brice Pollock. That group forms a leadership spine across nearly every position affected by transition.

The more demanding reconstruction belongs to Wood and Greene. Craven reported that Texas Tech lost David Bailey, Romello Height, Lee Hunter and Jacob Rodriguez from the championship team, stripping proven players from the edge, interior line and linebacker level. Holmes is the established defensive-tackle anchor, and Craven identified Wake Forest transfer Mateen Ibirogba as the leading reinforcement inside. Their ability to disrupt from the middle will be especially important while a new edge rotation develops; without interior pressure, the changes up front could place more strain on every level behind them.

Texas Tech has recognizable answers at linebacker and cornerback. Craven described Roberts as the leader of the linebacker room and Kansas State transfer Austin Romaine as the expected successor to Rodriguez; both later made Phil Steele’s preseason first-team All-Big 12 list. Pollock, an official preseason All-Big 12 choice, gives the secondary a coverage cornerstone and senior leader. Transfers and newcomers were added throughout the defense, including corner Davin Martin and edge players Trey White and Adam Trick, but preseason recognition cannot substitute for cohesion. The defense’s ceiling depends on how quickly those additions fit around Holmes, Roberts, Romaine and Pollock.

The schedule gives McGuire time to establish those combinations, then steadily increases the pressure. Texas Tech opens at home against Abilene Christian, travels to Oregon State and returns to Lubbock for Houston. The Red Raiders avoid BYU, Utah and Kansas State during the regular season, but road games at Colorado and Cincinnati test them before a demanding November that includes trips to Oklahoma State and Baylor followed by TCU at home. It is a workable path for a defending champion, which makes early quarterback growth and defensive cohesion all the more consequential. Texas Tech has enough proven structure to remain in the Big 12 race; whether it can defend the title will be decided by how quickly McGuire turns a collection of veteran anchors and new pieces into one dependable team.

Win probability

92%