Certain moments in football hit differently. Not the highlight-reel touchdowns or the game-winning field goals, but the raw, unfiltered truths that remind you this game is bigger than just X’s and O’s. Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire had one of those moments when he hopped on David Pollack’s podcast and got really emotional talking about Nebraska’s HC Matt Rhule. And if you think this is just another coach giving a shoutout to an old mentor — nah, this one goes deep.

On February 28th, the Red Raiders’ Coach McGuire wasn’t just thanking Rhule for a job opportunity — he was giving him his flowers for changing his entire career. “Within the first month of me being at Baylor, Coach Rhule came up to me and said, ‘Hey, you’re supposed to be a head coach at this level.’ And he said, ‘The things you don’t know, I’m going to help you learn,” McGuire recalled. That wasn’t just talk. Rhule took McGuire under his wing, taught him everything from roster management to recruiting, and made sure he was prepared for the big leagues.

Back in 2017, Matt Rhule walked into Baylor with a program that was, quite frankly, a dumpster fire. Scandal-ridden, in shambles, and fresh off a one-win season, Baylor needed a rebuild of epic proportions. And Rhule? He wasn’t looking for quick fixes. He was looking for architects — people who could build something that would last. That’s where McGuire came in as his assistant coach.

“If I hadn’t worked for somebody like that, that saw that in me, and then their ego didn’t get in the way of, ‘Hey, let’s help this guy grow,’ um, I wouldn’t be where I’m at. I always tell everybody, if I hadn’t worked for Matt Rhule, I wouldn’t be at Texas Tech.” McGuire said. He made it clear: without Rhule, he wouldn’t be running the show in Lubbock today.

Look, McGuire wasn’t your typical fresh-outta-NFL-bust turned into a college assistant. The man was a Texas high school football legend, a three-time state champ at Cedar Hill. But college football? Zero experience. Didn’t matter. Rhule saw something in him and made him part of the rebuild. Within 2 years, McGuire had leveled up from tight ends coach to associate head coach, learning the game’s finer details — recruiting, roster management, and player development. The man went from a high school legend to a key piece of a Big 12 powerhouse in the making. And when Rhule bounced for the NFL in 2020? McGuire stayed behind, holding down the fort until his own big break came calling.

That break? Texas Tech. In 2021, the Red Raiders bet big on McGuire, and the man delivered. First season, 8-5, and the first time taking down both Texas and Oklahoma in the same year. Talk about being upset. Now, in 2024, McGuire’s Red Raiders are sitting pretty after another 8-5 run and a Liberty Bowl appearance, even if they took an L to Arkansas. But here’s where it gets really interesting — the offseason moves. Because McGuire ain’t just talking about building a powerhouse; he’s putting the pieces together in a way that’s making the whole country take notice.

Red Raiders’ transfer portal takeover and $1.7M adjusted NIL value

Texas Tech just pulled off something serious in the 2025 transfer portal. Ranked No. 1 in the country, McGuire and his staff went full shark mode, snatching up 17 new players while saying goodbye and letting go of 15. Adjusted NIL value? A cool $1.7 million. Crazy flex for a team like Texas Tech.

Joey McGuire didn’t just grab athletes — he grabbed game-changers. USC running back Quinten Joyner? Speed for days. Tight end Terrance Carter from Louisiana? Straight-up red-zone nightmare. And on defense, dudes like Brice Pollock from Mississippi State and Anthony Holmes Jr. from Houston are about to bring that extra bite the Red Raiders needed. The Red Raiders are done playing second fiddle. They’re here to run it up.

And that? That’s Matt Rhule’s influence all over again. McGuire is building his squad the same way Rhule did at Baylor — brick by brick, player by player, culture first, talent right behind it. And while Rhule’s off trying to get Nebraska back to relevancy, his fingerprints are all over what’s happening down in Lubbock.

So, what’s next? With a revamped roster, a head coach who’s got his foot on the gas. And a Big 12 that’s wide open for the taking, Texas Tech is about to make some serious noise. Joey McGuire came in hot, but he’s just getting started. And as for Matt Rhule? Well, Nebraska better hope they don’t see Texas Tech on the schedule anytime soon. Because McGuire’s making sure his mentor’s lessons aren’t just learned but lived.