After taking down Big 12 leaders BYU in week 11, Texas Tech has climbed to the top of the conference standings. Sitting at 9-1 overall, the Red Raiders are in a prime position to secure a playoff berth. With just two games remaining in the regular season, HC Joey McGuire’s squad has delivered a defensive masterclass, a sharp contrast to the high-octane, no-defense style that defined the Patrick Mahomes era.

Spending $7 million on its NIL-fueled defense has paid off for Joey McGuire this season, with $3 million reportedly allocated to standout LB David Bailey alone. The Red Raiders’ defense has been dominant, allowing just 12.6 points per game to rank third nationally. It’s a stark contrast to the Patrick Mahomes era, when Texas Tech fielded one of the nation’s most explosive offenses but struggled mightily on defense. Analysts Scott Van Pelt and Stanford Steve recently broke down the transformation on ESPN, highlighting just how far the Red Raiders have come under McGuire’s leadership.

“I’m dumbfounded that I’m watching Texas Tech play football and they have a defense. I’ve never seen it in my life,” said Steve on the November 9th episode of ESPN’s CFB Instant Reactions. “And that’s not being disrespectful. They played ridiculous nonsense football. The Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes box scores, the oldtimer. It was like 1,200 yards of offense. There was no defense of any kind.” Van Pelt added.

Indeed, Texas Tech looks vastly different from the program it was in 2016. With Patrick Mahomes as the QB, the Red Raiders’ offense posted 653 passing attempts, 428 completions, 5,052 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions. That season, Texas Tech ranked first nationally in total yards per game (566.6) and fifth in points per game (43.7), embodying the high-octane style they were known for at that time. Mahomes even broke the record for highest passing yards that season. He posted 819 passing yards against Oklahoma, accounting for all but 13 of Texas Tech’s total 854 yards that night. However, their defense was very vulnerable at that time.

The 2016 Texas Tech defense ranked dead last, 128th nationally, in points allowed per game (43.5). While the offense was firing on all cylinders, the defense was consistently picked apart, keeping the Red Raiders out of contention for the Big 12 title. “So, it was dismissible. It was easy to dismiss because it was entertaining, but it wasn’t championship football of any kind.” Van Pelt expressed.

However, that seems like a thing of the past, as Texas Tech under Joey McGuire has found a new defensive rhythm this season. The Red Raiders now pair that defense with an offense ranked 18th nationally in passing yards, forming one of the most balanced teams the program has seen in years. Now that they’re at the top of the conference, the Red Raiders have shifted their focus to the upcoming playoffs.

Can Joey McGuire’s Texas Tech make a deep run in the playoffs?

With the 29-7 win against BYU in week 11, Texas Tech has topped the Big 12 conference. With only two games left in the regular season, Joey McGuire’s full focus will be on cementing his team’s place in the playoffs. He will have to ensure that Texas Tech breezes past UCF and West Virginia, maintaining its spot at the top.

The Red Raiders have become a strong defensive side under McGuire, which would be instrumental in their run to the playoffs. However, there are inconsistencies in his team. The offense has shown balance but hasn’t produced many standout performances. If Texas Tech hopes to make a deep playoff push, the offense must assert itself, finish drives, and perform in big moments.

The BYU game showed the best of the Red Raiders. However, the offense lacked rhythm in crucial moments. The inability to finish drives will come to bite them back in tough games away from home.

With powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M likely to make the playoffs, McGuire will need his team to excel in all aspects to compete at that level, both offensively and defensively.