Texas Tech took a big swing in the transfer portal this offseason, and head coach Joey McGuire couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead. In his fourth year in Lubbock, he’s setting the tone—this is the year for the Red Raiders. Well, with a revamped roster and explosive playmakers on offense, Texas Tech is ready to make a noise in the Big 12. But they didn’t just test the portal waters; they made a bold $10 million move. However, the only question now is: Can the Red Raiders turn that investment into a title run?

Texas Tech HC Joey McGuire sat down for an honest conversation with On3’s Andy & Ari on March 14 about the Red Raiders’ future. And when asked if his team could make a run this season, McGuire didn’t hesitate. Instead of just talking football, he shined a light on two key figures – Cody Campbell and John Sellers.

McGuire said, “Yeah, you know, Cody and John—I bring both of them up. Cody is really involved, John’s kind of behind the scenes. It’s a great story with those guys. They both were high school teammates, they were college teammates. Their company is called Double Eagle. The ‘Eagle’ comes from their high school mascot, the Canon Eagles. And, those two guys, man—like you said, they sold that company for, I think it was four billion. I think that’s the fourth time, and that’s one of the smaller sales of that company. And they’ve been hitting home runs for a long time.” Honestly, McGuire made it clear—Texas Tech isn’t just backed by talent, but by visionaries who know how to win.

Well, Texas Tech is making a serious noise in the transfer portal, fueled by their partnership with The Matador Club, a local NIL collective. Leading the charge is Cody Campbell, a passionate Texas Tech supporter and founder of the collective. However, Campbell recently grabbed headlines after selling his oil and natural gas business, Double Eagle, in a blockbuster $4 billion deal to Diamondback Energy. As of now, with strong backing and a bold approach to roster building, the Red Raiders are primed for a big 2025 season.

However, Cody saw the shift coming early—back in mid-July. In a meeting McGuire had with Raiders’ AD Kirby Hocutt, deputy AD Jonathan Botros, and GM James Blanchard, he laid it out, stating, “Man, there’s a time right now in college football where you’re fixing to operate in two different worlds.” Moreover, he said, “If everything works out in April with a settlement, we’ve got the NIL world we’ve been in and the new revenue-sharing era. And we’ve got an opportunity to take advantage of that world.” Safe to say, Cody knew the landscape was changing, and Texas Tech was ready to adapt.

And according to Cody, Joey McGuire delivered. “And that’s what we did,” said the HC. When the transfer portal opened in January, Texas Tech wasted no time targeting top-tier talent. Because the timing couldn’t have been better—the Red Raiders had just unveiled a state-of-the-art, $250 million football facility. As of now, with NIL, revenue sharing, and elite resources in their corner, they have everything needed to attract some of the best players in the country.

And Texas Tech made a statement in early January, locking in the No. 2 ranked transfer portal class. And they brought in 17 new players, including seven of ESPN’s top 75 transfers. But the price tag? Over $10 million. However, this wasn’t just about outspending the competition—it was a masterclass in strategy. Safe to say, ten days of relentless recruiting and five months of careful planning turned Texas Tech into a portal powerhouse.

Joey McGuire’s recruitment strategy

Recruiting at Texas Tech is all about finding NFL-caliber talent. And the staff is laser-focused on identifying linemen with the right measurables. “We’re recruiting. We want guys that have NFL traits. We want guys, you know—we had a talk this morning about an offensive tackle that we really like,” McGuire said. So, the goal? Land two or three top-tier tackles in the 2026 class. To be honest, for Texas Tech, it’s all about building a dominant front with the right traits.

Well, Texas Tech’s recruiting philosophy is clear—athleticism and versatility matter just as much as tape. And Coach McGuire emphasized their focus on verified measurables and multi-sport athletes, saying, “We want to go after this kid as a tackle, and so it is, man. We want verified measurables. We want guys that play multiple sports… And so we’re looking for those traits. I know a lot of people are, but those traits, just for us, mean just as much as the film does.” The HC is on a hunt for elite athletic traits in the upcoming hires of the Red Raiders. He’s going full-on with the recruitment game, with great expectations and good financial backing.

Now, let’s see if Joey McGuire can bring home the title with his revamped roster of talented players.