The highly anticipated College Football Playoff quarterfinal did not go as planned for the Texas Tech Red Raiders who, despite an impressive season, were taken down 23-0 by the Oregon Ducks in the Orange Bowl. Despite a defensively strong game that created multiple opportunities, the Red Raiders' offense struggled against the Ducks' poised play. The result was a shutout - the first time Texas Tech had fallen so silent since their scoreless first half back in 2021.
As reported by Fox San Antonio, Texas Tech's offense was a shadow of its former self, having ranked second nationally in points per game at 42.5 prior to this match. The Red Raiders could bank only 88 total yards in the first half and were plagued by two turnovers, and, a meager three first downs at halftime. In an unexpected twist for a team that had won all 12 of their previous games by 20-plus points, quarterback Behren Morton seemed unsettled, resulting in a couple of key interceptions and a loss of ball control.
Despite the team's financial backing, with a reported multimillion-dollar roster and a billionaire booster as mentioned by Fox San Antonio, the investment did not translate into the expected payoff. Texas Tech's National Letters of Intent (NIL) total is around $28 million, sitting comfortably second in spending behind Texas, a figure coupled with the NCAA's permitted revenue share of $20.5 million. The money was a significant catalyst in elevating Tech to one of the nation's top defenses.
"One thing I told them, and I truly believe it," Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire stated in an AP News interview, "When you do something that nobody's ever done. ... The standard is set. That’s where you start building something really special." McGuire, whose team ended their season with their heads held high, emphasized the setting of a new standard and expressed pride in his squad. Furthermore, junior tight end Terrance Carter expressed his intentions to stay with Texas Tech and his belief in the team's capacity to set a standard for future squads.
Players and coaches alike, as per their comments to Fox San Antonio and AP News, remain committed to the team's long-term success and the building of a legacy, even if for now, that success remains just out of reach.
