2022 record: 8-5 (+1 win from 2021) 

Texas Power Poll ranking: 4 of 12 

THE GOOD 

The Red Raiders won eight games for the first time since 2013 and finished above .500 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2009 – the last year of the Mike Leach era. Texas Tech knocked off Texas and Oklahoma at home in the same season for the first time in school history, and the program put an exclamation point on the season with a win over Ole Miss in the Texas Bowl. Not bad for a program in year one under a new coach. Joey McGuire proved capable of leading a college team to success, and West Texas if fully behind the new regime. 

The offense improved from the 50th best scoring unit in the country in 2021 to 27th in 2022 under offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, despite starting three quarterbacks four times each during the regular season due to various injuries. Tyler Shough went 4-0 in his starts and Behren Morton looked like a future star at times before a season-ending injury. Texas Tech scored 34.2 points per game and averaged over 300 yards passing a contest. 

The defense was led by future first round NFL Draft pick Tyree Wilson. The former Texas A&M transfer was the best defensive lineman in Texas. He recorded 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 10 games played. Krishon Merriweather led the second level with 112 tackles from his linebacker position. Safeties such as Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Marquis Waters also proved to be impact players for a defense that allowed one point fewer per game in 2022 than it did the season before. 

THE BAD 

The offensive line wasn’t great despite bringing in a handful of transfers prior to the season. Western Kentucky transfer Cole Spencer never saw the field due to injury, and his absence was felt throughout the year. The Red Raiders averaged 3.9 yards a carry, but it was the pass blocking that proved disastrous. They allowed 41 sacks on the year, which is more than any other team in Texas. Only 13 teams in the FBS ranks (out of 131) allowed more total sacks than Texas Tech. The deficiency up front directly led to the quarterback carousel caused by injury. 

The passing defense also struggled. The Red Raiders allowed 256.8 yards passing a game, which was 103rdin the nation. The unit only recorded 10 interceptions on 425 pass attempts against. Opponents completed nearly 60 percent of their passes and attempted almost 33 passes per game. 

THE UGLY 

Texas Tech was 0-4 on the road to start the season and finished the year at 1-4 away from Lubbock. The lone win was a 14-10 victory over Iowa State on Nov. 19. Three of those four losses were by at least 10 points and the other was a nine-point loss to Kansas State. In the Red Raiders’ defense, all four of those losses were to teams that entered the contest ranked nationally. A 45-17 home loss to Baylor in front of a sold-out Jones AT&T Stadium with Patrick Mahomes, and a host of big-time recruits, in the house also stung. McGuire and a chunk of his staff coached at Baylor previously. 

TEAM GRADES

Quarterback: B+ 

Running back: B-

Wide receiver/tight end: B 

Offensive line: C

Defensive line: B 

Linebacker: B-

Cornerback: C

Safety: B-

BIGGEST OFFSEASON QUESTION

Is Texas Tech poised for a run at the 2023 Big 12 title?

TCU and Kansas State in 2022. Baylor and Oklahoma State in 2021. Which team rises from the middle of the pack to contend for a title in 2023? My dark horse pick is Texas Tech because the Red Raiders return experienced quarterback play and will only improve along the offensive line and on defense after a successful recruiting stint at the prep and transfer level. 

TCU figures to take a step back in 2023 due to losses on both sides of the football. Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State suffered a mass exodus. Texas and Oklahoma, while always talented, didn’t look close to competing for a conference title in 2022. And Baylor regressed from conference champion to 6-7 without Matt Rhule’s players. Newcomers such as Cincinnati and UCF also figure to compete right away. The Big 12 is wide open heading into 2023. 

WAY TOO EARLY 2023 OUTLOOK 

A Week 2 showdown in Lubbock against Oregon will tell us a lot about the ceiling for Texas Tech in 2023. A win and the Red Raiders are on the national radar heading into Big 12 play. A loss doesn’t derail the main goal of 2023 – compete for a conference title in a crowded Big 12. The conference schedule is yet to be released as Texas and Oklahoma continue to flirt with an early departure to the SEC. The safe money is on both teams remaining in the conference until the start of 2024. 

The offense should be explosive with Shough or Morton at the helm. If the offensive line improves, watch out. Defensively, Texas Tech wants to create more turnovers and improve in coverage. A Big 12 championship isn’t out of the question if both of those areas improve.