Joey McGuire returns for his 5th season as head coach of the Red Raiders after a 12-2 (8-1 Big 12) season. Mack Leftwich returns as offensive coordinator, and both coordinators are now familiar with their players from last season in Lubbock. Texas Tech enters the season with a bit of drama at the QB position. Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby was suspended for gambling, which led to his departure. Will Hammond will be the starter, but he will be out for the first few weeks recovering from an ACL injury last year. The running back room remains with top back Cameron Dickey, who averaged 80 yards on the ground per game returning. J’Koby Williams, who averaged 62 yards per game, returns as well. Quinten Joyner missed all of 2025, but averaged 40 yards per game in 2024 at USC. The offensive line returns three starters from a season ago in Howard Sampson, Sheridan Wilson and Jacob Ponton. The Red Raiders will be breaking in new guards. Reggie Virgil and Caleb Douglas are off to the NFL, but tight end Terrance Carter remains. The Red Raiders got a big boost to the receivers room with Kenny Johnson coming over from Pitt to take double coverages off Coy Eakin.

Shiel Wood returns for his second season as defensive coordinator. Losing Jacob Rodriguez to the Dolphins was a big loss, but Ben Roberts returns, and the Red Raiders brought in Kansas State transfer Austin Romaine to bolster the linebackers room. Texas Tech will have a new-look defensive line with AJ Holmes being the only returning starter from that group. The secondary returns a lot of talent from a season ago, bringing back Brice Pollack, Brenden Jordan and John Curry.

Special teams coordinator Kenny Perry enters his 5th season with the luxury of returning place kicker Stone Harrington and kick returner J’Koby Williams, who is a threat to make a house call every time he touches the ball. Will Karoll comes over from UCLA to take over the punting duties. The Pitt transfer Kenny Johnson is a dangerous punt returner and scored a touchdown for the Panthers last year. After their strong performance against Oregon in last year’s College Football Playoff, the Red Raiders are ready to build on a breakthrough season.