Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire cemented his status as one of the elite playcallers in college football after leading Texas Tech to a 34-7 win over BYU in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Beyond his high-caliber playcalling, it is McGuire’s off-field contributions that truly set him apart.
Joey McGuire Recognized Among College Football Elite Following Texas Tech’s Big 12 Triumph
PFSN analyst Emily Van Buskirk spoke about McGuire’s elite status, saying that the Texas Tech coach’s approachable persona and dedication to the game and his players are top-notch.
“Tech’s Joey McGuire is one of the best coaches in college football – accessible to his fan base, dedicated to his players, a true man of the people,” Van Buskirk said.
He is known in college football circles as a “people person,” making a conscious effort to connect with everyone he meets, whether it is the families of his recruits or the close relatives of his staff. McGuire makes it a point that everyone is valued and respected.
Aside from this, the coach’s authentic and consistent personality has enabled him to garner emotional backing from fans and attract enormous financial support to his program. Consider the substantial investment Texas Tech has made to help the program become one of the top teams this season.
His sociable trait likens him to the legendary Red Raider Spike Dykes, who is best remembered for his wit and charm and helping Texas Tech record 82 home wins in his 13-year tenure from 1986-99.
However, the “man of the people” personality is the complete opposite on the football field. McGuire’s defensive line has been ferocious all season. They have been the nation’s No. 1 rushing defense, holding opponents to just 68.9 yards per game, nearly 10 fewer than anyone else.
Texas Tech is proving that strong defense leads to offensive success. They rank third in the nation in points allowed, giving up only 11.3 points per game, which contributes to their high offensive output, ranking third nationally at 43.2 points scored per game. They also stand sixth in the NCAA in average total yards allowed at 258.9 yards per game.
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Building on that foundation, the Red Raiders are ninth in passing yards at 295.6 per game and fourth in total yardage at 489.2 yards per game. McGuire has also developed linebacker Jacob Rodriguez into one of the nation’s elite defenders, putting him in Heisman Trophy discussions this season.
McGuire’s efforts have drawn comparisons to another Texas Tech legend, Mike Leach, who guided the Red Raiders to four consecutive bowl games. “The Pirate” led Texas Tech to 10 straight bowl games, a feat that McGuire aims to achieve in the future.
Joey McGuire, Jacob Rodriguez Shine As Texas Tech Rips Apart BYU To Win Big 12 Championship Crown
Speaking of Rodriguez, the linebacker continued his fierce form, recording 13 tackles to terrorize the BYU offense. His ferocity enabled Ben Roberts to record two interceptions for Texas Tech, which scored 34 unanswered points after the Cougars took the early lead.
Behren Morton threw two touchdowns, and Stone Harrington contributed four field goals for the Red Raiders, who completed their season dominance over BYU, which lost to Texas Tech 29-7 in Lubbock four weeks ago.
The Red Raiders’ defense limited BYU to a season-low 200 total yards, including 63 rushing yards, and forced four turnovers that dismantled the Cougars’ chances of winning the Big 12 title and possibly hurt their College Football Playoff rankings after the weekend’s games.
Texas Tech’s performance has nearly secured a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. The Red Raiders could possibly play in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on New Year’s Eve.
