When the Red Raiders woke up Saturday morning, they already knew that they would be playing for the Big 12 title regardless of the outcome against West Virginia. But Joey McGuire and staff have made it clear they are playing for that playoff bye week. There wasn’t a complicated game plan needed to defeat West Virginia. It was clear from the opening drive that this team wasn’t going to let Texas Tech history slip through its fingers. The Red Raiders dominate the Mountaineers by a score of 49-0, securing their fourth 11-win season in 94 seasons.
Historic Defensive Regular Season Complete
Red Raider defensive coordinator Shiel Wood arrived in Lubbock before the season with expectations just to make that side of the ball respectable. His track record indicated that respectability was within grasp. However, with an influx of elite defensive talent, Wood’s defense exceeded expectations. The defensive front has set the tone all season. The combination of Lee Hunter, A.J. Holmes Jr., Romello Height, David Bailey, and Skyler Gill-Howard has wrecked offenses all season. With that type of talent up front, it was a “pick your poison” situation for offensive lines. Any focus on one player gave one-on-one matchups for others. They shut down any rushing game they faced all season and unleashed a ferocious pass-rush.
With all the attention this front has received, it has given both the linebackers and secondary players to make their own game-changing plays. There has not been a more game-changing player on the defense than linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. After the West Virginia game, he finished the regular season with 104 tackles, 10 of which were tackles for loss. Additionally, he had six passes deflected, four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown). Rodriguez is a finalist for the Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, and the Lott Impact Trophy.
Four Players Attempted A Pass
But it is the push by the staff to get Rodriguez to New York for Heisman trophy consideration for more potential Texas Tech history that has seen him on the offensive side of the ball in recent games. He made an appearance at quarterback twice in this game. His first appearance resulted in his second rushing touchdown. However, his second time, he attempted his only pass of the season, which was intercepted in the endzone. He was one of four players for Texas Tech to attempt a pass against West Virginia. Starting quarterback Behren Morton had an excellent day, going 25-for-32 passing for 310 yards and three touchdown passes. Most importantly, he was able to make a healthy exit early in the third quarter after the Red Raiders took a 35-0 lead.
Mitch Griffis only played two drives before exiting the game with an injury. But that didn’t have any damper on the Red Raider offense against the Mountaineers. Fourth string quarterback, Lloyd Jones III, was four-for-five passing for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Cameron Dickey, with his 79 rushing yards, cleared the 1,000-yard mark on the season. Much like Morton, the best news beyond the regular season finale win was having the key starters on offense leave the game healthy.
Texas Tech History Achieved; What’s Next?
This team didn’t just win 11 games. They annihilated their opponent in all 11 victories. Texas Tech allowed only 135 points all season (11.25 per game). The average margin of defeat in the 11 wins was 37.1, with no victory coming by less than 20 points. The 2025 season is unquestionably the greatest regular season in program history. However, this team still has more Texas Tech history to achieve. The Red Raiders will take on BYU in a rematch of a game in which the Red Raiders were in full control. Can the Texas Tech win its first outright conference title since the 1950s and earn a first-round bye in the playoffs?
Main Image: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
