Texas Tech Cracks Preseason Top 15 at No. 13: Can the Red Raiders Emerge as Legitimate National Title Contenders?
In a college football landscape dominated by blueblood programs, familiar faces, and perennial contenders, one name has unexpectedly surged into the national conversation heading into the 2025 season: Texas Tech. Landing at No. 13 in our College Football Preseason Top 25, the Red Raiders are positioned higher than they’ve been in over a decade, prompting a burning question for fans, analysts, and skeptics alike—can Texas Tech contend for a national title?
What once felt like a pipe dream for the faithful in Lubbock is now a legitimate discussion, thanks to a confluence of coaching momentum, roster development, key returning stars, and a favorable schedule that could pave the way to greatness. But for Texas Tech to transform preseason hype into championship reality, it will take more than hope and headlines—it will take execution at every level.
Let’s rewind just a few seasons to appreciate the trajectory. Under head coach Joey McGuire, now entering his fourth year at the helm, Texas Tech has quietly but steadily built one of the most balanced and competitive rosters in the Big 12. Initially seen as a culture hire with high school coaching roots, McGuire has proven doubters wrong with his recruiting prowess, staff management, and fiery leadership. Last season’s 10-3 campaign—the program’s first 10-win season since 2008—showcased a team that no longer crumbled under pressure but embraced it. The Red Raiders closed the season with six straight wins, including a convincing bowl victory over a top-25 opponent, signaling that this team was not just improving—it was peaking.
The 2025 squad returns the core of that breakout team, beginning with the heartbeat of the offense: junior quarterback Will Hammond. A former four-star recruit with a dual-threat skillset and ice in his veins, Hammond enters the season as a dark horse Heisman candidate. In 2024, he threw for over 3,500 yards and 28 touchdowns while adding another 600 yards on the ground. His ability to extend plays, read defenses, and deliver accurate deep balls has made him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country—and the perfect field general for offensive coordinator Zach Kittley’s uptempo, aggressive system.
Around Hammond is an arsenal of weapons that would make any defensive coordinator lose sleep. Senior wide receiver Jerand Bradley, a 6’5″ matchup nightmare, returns after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and is widely viewed as a first-round NFL talent. Opposite him, sophomore phenom DeAndre Moore, the speedy transfer from Louisville, brings elite explosiveness and route-running ability. In the backfield, Tahj Brooks is gone to the NFL, but his successor, sophomore stud Kaden Carr, is ready to shine. Carr flashed brilliance in limited action last year, and insiders say he’s had a monster offseason.
What separates Texas Tech’s offense from the “Air Raid” teams of the past is balance. Yes, the passing game is potent, but the Red Raiders can run the ball effectively, control the clock, and win in the trenches. That’s thanks in large part to a veteran offensive line led by All-American tackle Monroe Mills, who bypassed the NFL Draft for one more run in Lubbock. The unit returns four starters and is widely considered the best offensive line in the Big 12, if not a top-five group nationally.
But championship-caliber teams aren’t built on flashy offenses alone. Texas Tech’s biggest leap in the McGuire era has come on defense. The Red Raiders were a top-25 defense last season in both scoring and total yards allowed—a feat that once felt unfathomable in Lubbock. Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter has constructed a unit that’s aggressive, opportunistic, and relentless. Anchoring the front seven is senior linebacker Tyree Wilson II, the younger brother of former Tech star and top-10 NFL pick Tyree Wilson. At 6’6” and 250 pounds with 4.6 speed, Wilson II is a freakish edge rusher who posted 11 sacks last season and is projected as a potential top-15 draft pick.
The defensive line features a deep rotation led by junior nose tackle E’Maurion Banks, who dominates inside and frees up blitz lanes for a fast, attacking linebacker corps. In the secondary, Tech returns three starters, including shutdown corner Malik Dunlap and ball-hawking safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, a sixth-year senior with the instincts and leadership of a true field general. Turnovers were the Red Raiders’ calling card last season, and with this group’s cohesion and speed, expect more of the same in 2025.
Another key component of Texas Tech’s rise is its recruiting success. Once an afterthought in the race for elite talent, the Red Raiders have cracked into the top 20 in national recruiting rankings for back-to-back years, including several blue-chip signings and savvy portal pickups. McGuire and his staff have built a sustainable pipeline of talent not only from Texas high schools but also through national connections, especially in California and the Southeast. That depth will be critical as the grind of the season sets in.
Schedule-wise, Tech couldn’t ask for a better setup to launch a title run. The Red Raiders open the season at home against UTSA, followed by a neutral-site clash against Arkansas in Houston—a game that will provide an early measuring stick. Conference play starts with matchups against Houston and Arizona at home, giving Tech a strong chance to start 4-0. The biggest hurdle comes midseason: a three-game stretch featuring road trips to Kansas State and TCU, sandwiched around a home showdown against Oregon, the Big 12’s newest powerhouse. Survive that, and Tech could be staring at an unbeaten record heading into November.
The Red Raiders close the season with games against Baylor, UCF, and Oklahoma State—none of which are easy, but all of which are winnable if Tech plays to its potential. Importantly, Tech avoids playing Texas (now in the SEC) and doesn’t face Georgia or Alabama until a potential College Football Playoff appearance. If they can go 11-1 or even 10-2 with a Big 12 title game victory, the expanded 12-team playoff format all but assures them a shot at the crown.
Of course, skepticism lingers. After all, this is Texas Tech—a program that’s seen flashes of brilliance fade too quickly into mediocrity. The ghosts of near-misses still haunt, particularly the 2008 team that rose to No. 2 in the nation before collapsing late. For every breakout star, there have been just as many missed tackles and blown leads. But there’s a growing sense around the program that this time is different. The infrastructure is better. The coaching is sharper. The locker room culture is unified, battle-tested, and hungry.
Leadership will be key. Will Hammond must continue to evolve, not just as a playmaker but as a calming presence when adversity strikes. The defense must maintain its aggression without overcommitting. And the coaching staff, now among the most stable in the Big 12, must make the right in-game decisions when the margins are thin.
If there’s one X-factor that could push Texas Tech over the top, it’s belief. Belief in the system, belief in the process, and belief in the vision McGuire has laid out. Championship runs aren’t built overnight, and they’re rarely smooth. But every season, a few programs rise from the ranks of the “very good” to the “truly great.” Could Texas Tech be that team in 2025?
The pieces are there. The path is there. And now, with a top-15 preseason ranking, the eyes of the college football world are finally watching. The Red Raiders no longer sneak up on anyone. They are expected to win—and perhaps win big.
So, can Texas Tech contend for a national title? The answer, for the first time in a long time, is not a dismissive shake of the head, but a cautious, compelling yes. They’ll have to earn it, every yard and every week. But if the grit, growth, and greatness we saw last season carry forward, the Red Raiders could very well ride their fastest horses all the way to the College Football Playoff.
And maybe—just maybe—bring the desert winds of West Texas to the heart of the national championship conversation.
