Tag: Red Raiders

Texas Tech QB Behren Morton (fibula) out of boot, feels 100%

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton has shed the walking boot that he’s spent the second half of the season wearing during the week, and he feels 100% ahead of the Red Raiders’ College Football Playoff opener against Oregon on Thursday.

“Staying in a boot the whole entire week, not getting to practice, then taking the boot off on Saturday and getting to play, it was not fun at all,” Morton told reporters Tuesday.

The quarterback played the second half of the season with a hairline fracture in his right fibula that he suffered Oct. 11 in a win against Kansas. He missed two games — including the Red Raiders’ only loss at Arizona State — but when Morton returned, he was held out of most practice activities.

Morton still helped steer the Red Raiders to an 11-1 regular season followed by a 34-7 win over BYU in the Big 12 Championship Game, locking up the No. 4 seed and a first-round playoff bye in the process.

The team has had 26 days between that conference title and the New Year’s Day game at the Orange Bowl, which helped Morton heal up. He stopped wearing the boot after the Big 12 title game, he said Tuesday in Miami Gardens, Fla.

“This whole bowl prep has been really good for me,” Morton said. “I’ve been basically at hundred percent in practice as far as team reps. I haven’t been able to do team reps really all season long. … Just getting the body back to playing football again — it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to do that.”

Texas Tech has relied on its stout defense, which ranks third in the FBS in both fewest points (10.92 per game) and yards allowed (254.4). The Red Raiders’ final four opponents were held to single-digit points.

But Morton believes the offense opens up more when he’s able to play. In 11 games, he has thrown for 2,643 yards, 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions on a Big 12-best 67% completion percentage.

“We have so many playmakers, though,” he said. “It makes my job easy. If I can find them open and get the ball to them quickly, I think we can be pretty explosive.”

–Field Level Media

Reports: Texas Tech gives Joey McGuire new 7-year contract

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Texas Tech and head coach Joey McGuire agreed on a new, seven-year contract that takes him through the 2032 season and raises his salary, multiple reports said Tuesday.

McGuire’s average annual salary will jump to nearly $7 million per year, and he’ll be earning more than $7 million by the end of the contract plus incentives, Yahoo and ESPN reported.

McGuire, 54, has guided the fifth-ranked Red Raiders to an 11-1 record and a berth in the Big 12 championship game against No. 11 BYU. Texas Tech is seen as a virtual lock for its first CFP playoff berth whether or not it wins the conference title.

McGuire has compiled a 34-17 record (24-12 Big 12) in his four seasons on the job, taking Texas Tech to a bowl in every season. The Texas native was hired in late 2021 after working on Baylor’s staff for five years and as a high school coach for two decades before that.

He is the latest in a long line of head coaches who have received extensions this season while Penn State and a number of SEC teams had job openings to fill.

–Field Level Media

No. 8 Texas Tech sends No. 7 BYU to first loss in Big 12 clash

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Cameron Dickey had 23 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown, and No. 8 Texas Tech pulled away for a 29-7 win over No. 7 BYU in a Big 12 Conference matchup Saturday afternoon in Lubbock, Texas.

It was the first loss of the season for BYU.

Behren Morton completed 17 of 32 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown for Texas Tech (9-1, 6-1). Caleb Douglas had a touchdown reception for the Red Raiders.

Bear Bachmeier completed 23 of 38 passes for 188 yards, one touchdown and one interception for BYU (8-1, 5-1). Chase Roberts had six catches for 61 yards and a score.

Texas Tech outgained BYU 368-255, including a 149-67 advantage on the ground. The clash between Top 10 teams had a decidedly Red Raiders flair.

Texas Tech opened the scoring with 10:09 remaining in the first quarter when Stone Harrington made a 47-yard field goal.

The Red Raiders made it 10-0 in the final minute of the first quarter. Morton hit Douglas for a 9-yard touchdown.

Harrington struck again, this time from 27 yards, to increase Texas Tech’s lead to 13-0 with 8:11 to play in the second quarter.

A physical contest marked by battles in the trenches continued in the third quarter as neither team found the end zone.

Texas Tech settled for a pair of field goals to increase its lead to 19-0 heading into the fourth quarter. Harrington made a 39-yard kick with 7:00 on the clock in the third quarter, followed by a 29-yarder with 3:41 remaining in the frame.

Dickey found the end zone with 10:46 to go. He scored on a 1-yard run to give Texas Tech a 26-0 advantage.

BYU broke the shutout with 7:35 remaining after an eight-play, 75-yard drive. Bachmeier connected with Roberts for a 6-yard touchdown completion.

Harrington finished the scoring with his fifth field goal of the afternoon. He made a 34-yarder with 2:37 remaining to move the score to 29-7.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who starred at Texas Tech, attended the game to cheer on the Red Raiders. The Chiefs have a bye this week.

-Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Cameron Dickey (8) stiff arms Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive back Trip White (30) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

No. 14 Texas Tech blanks Oklahoma State in rout

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J’Koby Williams returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown as No. 14 Texas Tech rolled to a 42-0 Big 12 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday in Lubbock, Texas.

Will Hammond completed 9 of 15 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown before he went down with a reported non-contact knee injury in the second quarter. Backup quarterback Mitch Griffis completed 9 of 13 passes for 172 yards and a passing touchdown and added a rushing score.

Caleb Douglas had five catches for 98 yards and a touchdown and Williams caught three passes for 60 yards and a score. Cameron Dickey rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Jacob Rodriguez returned a fumble for a touchdown and Cole Wisniewski forced a fumble that Charles Esters III recovered for Texas Tech (7-1, 4-1 Big 12).

Sam Jackson V hit on 9 of 19 passes for 48 yards for OSU (1-7, 0-5). Trent Howland rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries. Taje McCoy and Ike Esonwune each recovered a fumble for the Cowboys, who lost their seventh straight game.

The Red Raiders held a 370-182 edge in total yards and their defense only allowed nine first downs.

After Braylon McDonald blocked a punt, Williams took a short pass in the flat 26 yards for a touchdown on the Red Raiders’ first play from scrimmage for a 13-0 lead.

Texas Tech went up 21-0 when Dickey scored on a 7-yard run that he followed up with a two-point conversion rush with 1:30 left in the first quarter. Rodriguez forced and recovered a fumble that he returned 69 yards for a touchdown as the hosts took a commanding 28-0 lead 5:30 before halftime.

On 3rd down and 2, Hammond hit Douglas on a fly route for a 42-yard touchdown as Texas Tech pushed its lead to 35-0 with 9:25 left in the third quarter.

Later in the third, Griffis trotted into the end zone on a 1-yard keeper and the Red Raiders went up 42-0.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Will Hammond (15) is upended by Arizona State Sun Devils safety Adrian Wilson (6) in the first half at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Arizona State scores late touchdown to hand No. 7 Texas Tech first loss

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Sam Leavitt passed for a career-high 319 yards and a touchdown, running back Raleek Brown scored on a 1-yard run with 34 seconds left and Arizona State blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter before recovering for a 26-22 upset over No. 7 Texas Tech in a Big 12 game Saturday afternoon in Tempe, Ariz.

The Sun Devils went 75 yards in 1:26 for the winning score after Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond led the Red Raiders to a pair of touchdowns in the final 3:45 for a 22-19 lead.

Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson had 10 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown as the defending Big 12 champion Sun Devils (5-2, 3-1 in Big 12) posted their first victory over an AP top-10 team since beating No. 6 Oregon 31-28 in 2019.
A pass interference penalty gave Arizona State the ball at the Texas Tech 2 with 40 seconds remaining, and Brown scored two plays later.

The Red Raiders (6-1, 3-1) played without starting quarterback Behren Morton, who aggravated a lower leg injury in a 42-17 victory over Kansas last week. They had never trailed in a game this season and had outscored their first six opponents by an average of 35.3 points a game.

Hammond completed 22 for 37 passes for 167 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in his second career start.

Hammond scored on a 1-yard run with 3:45 remaining to cut the Red Raiders’ deficit to 19-14. Less than two minutes later, he followed his 12-yard scoring pass to Reggie Virgil with a two-point conversion run with 2:00 remaining.

Texas Tech reached the Arizona State 28-yard line with three seconds remaining, but Hammond’s pass to the deep left corner of the end zone was tipped and fell incomplete.

Texas Tech became the fifth undefeated FBS team to lose this weekend, joining Miami, Mississippi, UNLV and Memphis.

Jesus Gomez made all four field goal attempts for the Sun Devils. His 28-yarder to cap a 16-play, 69-yard drive made it 19-7 in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

His 34-yarder with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter gave the Sun Devils a 3-0 lead and his 47-yarder one minute into the second quarter made it 6-0.

Hammond completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Coy Eakin with 5:57 remaining in the first half for a 7-6 lead after Texas Tech was set up when Leavitt’s long pass to Tyson on fourth-and-1 fell incomplete.

Gomez’s 26-yard field goal made it 9-7 at halftime.

Leavitt hit Tyson on a 2-yard score for a 16-7 lead, three plays after David Bailey was called for roughing the passer, negating a fourth-down incompletion that would have turned the ball over on downs.

–Field Level Media

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire looks on during a non-conference football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Texas Tech gets commitment from 5-star DT Jalen Brewster

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Five-star prospect Jalen Brewster, the No. 1 defensive lineman in the 2027 class per 247Sports, committed on Saturday to play for Joey McGuire, a former head coach of Brewster’s high school who is now at the helm of No. 11 Texas Tech.

Brewster is a junior at Cedar Hill High School in the Dallas area, where McGuire coached from 2004-16 and captured three state championships. The 6-foot-3, 302-pound defensive tackle chose the Red Raiders over Ohio State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Indiana and Texas A&M. Brewster is not allowed to sign a revenue-share contract until December 2026, per NCAA rules.

Brewster is the son of Robert Brewster, a third-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys after being named a two-time All-MAC offensive lineman at Ball State.

By landing a commitment from Brewster, the Red Raiders reeled in their second five-star recruit in the current cycle after No. 1 outside linebacker LaDamion Guyton pledged on Aug. 7 to attend Texas Tech. Four-star defensive tackle K’Adrian Redmond (No. 157 overall, per 247Sports) and three-star defensive end Antonio Underwood committed last month.

–Field Level Media

Oct 4, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton (2) completes a pass against the Houston Cougars in the first half at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

QB Behren Morton lights up Houston as No. 11 Texas Tech remains undefeated

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Behren Morton threw for 345 yards and a touchdown Saturday night and No. 11 Texas Tech never trailed en route to a 35-11 Big 12 Conference win at Houston in a matchup of unbeatens.

Morton hit 28 of 40 passes for the Red Raiders (5-0, 2-0), which also got a pair of touchdown runs and 107 yards rushing from J’Koby Williams. Texas Tech also got three field goals from Stone Harrington and two more from Upton Bellenfant.

The Cougars (4-1, 1-1) were forced to play two quarterbacks when starter Connor Weigman was knocked out late in the first half with an undisclosed upper-body injury after completing 5 of 12 passes for 71 yards and one interception.

Backup Zeon Chriss was 5-of-13 passing for 93 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Houston managed only 267 total yards and 12 first downs, converting just 1 of 12 third downs, and coughed up three turnovers that led to 10 points.

The Red Raiders initiated the scoring in the first quarter with three field goals. Harrington hit from 26 yards out at the 10:31 mark, followed by Bellenfant’s 33-yarder 53 seconds later and a 23-yard boot from Harrington with 4:34 remaining.

The Cougars got on the board on a 24-yard field goal from Ethan Sanchez with 2:19 left in the first quarter. But Texas Tech answered back, as Morton and Cameron Dickey hooked up for a 69-yard touchdown with 56 seconds left for a 15-3 advantage. It was the biggest play of a big game for Dickey, who also rushed for 98 yards on 21 attempts to finish with 167 yards from scrimmage.

Williams ran for a 5-yard score with 11:11 remaining in the half and Harrington converted from 26 on the first play after the 2-minute timeout. But Houston found the end zone when Chriss teamed with Amare Thomas for a 64-yard touchdown connection 1:27 before halftime.

Bellenfant made it 28-11 on a 29-yard field goal at the 7:44 mark of the third quarter and Williams tacked on the final score with a 1-yard scoring run with 11:34 remaining in the game.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes wide receiver Ryan Davis (9) is tackled by Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Amier Boyd (27) and linebacker John Curry (6) during the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

No. 17 Texas Tech loses QB, but handles No. 16 Utah

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Backup quarterback Will Hammond threw 169 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 17 Texas Tech to a 34-10 Big 12 conference victory over No. 16 Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday.

Hammond added 61 yards on the ground while playing much of the second half in relief of Behren Morton. Morton threw for 142 yards and had two interceptions before leaving in the third quarter with an apparent head injury.

On Texas Tech’s opening drive of the third, Utah linebacker Johnathan Hall’s shoulder hit Morton in the helmet when he slid at the end of a 10-yard scramble on 2nd-and-28. Morton immediately headed to the locker room and was ruled out.

Cameron Dickey rushed for 67 yards and two scores for the Red Raiders (4-0, 1-0 Big 12).

Utes quarterback Devon Dampier threw for 162 yards and two interceptions. Utah (3-1, 0-1) mustered only 263 yards on offense and committed four turnovers.

Utah trailed 13-3 early in the fourth before scoring its first touchdown. Wayshawn Parker scored on a 5-yard run with 10:22 left to cut the deficit to 13-10.

The wheels fell off for the Utes as Texas Tech scored touchdowns on three straight drives — a 24-yard run by Dickey and 24-yard and 21-yard passes by Hammond — to seal the victory.

Texas Tech converted a pair of long third downs on its opening drive and got on the board behind a 1-yard run from Cameron Dickey. J’Koby Williams set up the score with a 73-yard catch-and-run on third down, breaking tackles and weaving across the field to get down to the Utah 12.

Stone Harrington nailed a career-best 58-yard field goal to put the Red Raiders up 10-0 in the second quarter.

Utah had trouble generating momentum on offense. In the first quarter alone, the Utes had a 69-yard touchdown pass from Dampier to Jackson Bennee called back on an ineligible receiver penalty, then fumbled on back-to-back drives.

Dillon Curtis got the Utes on the board with a 32-yard field goal on the final play before halftime.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2025; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) during the first quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

No. 16 Utah hosts No. 17 Texas Tech with Big 12 supremacy on the line

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Much more than simple bragging rights will be on the line when No. 16 Utah hosts No. 17 Texas Tech in Salt Lake City on Saturday. Both teams look like early Big 12 title contenders amid a string of impressive non-conference victories.

The Utes (3-0) are rolling behind a vastly improved offense after ranking near the bottom of the Big 12 in virtually every major offensive category last season. Through three games, the Utes rank third in the league in scoring offense (45.7 ppg), second in rushing offense (290.0 ypg) and third in total offense (517.0 ypg).

Depth and versatility on that side of the ball has served Utah well to this point. First-year offensive coordinator Jason Beck has utilized a variety of players in his offensive packages.

“Jason has a really good feel for getting the most out of his guys and putting them in positions where they can do the things they do best instead of asking a guy to do something that maybe is not his cup of tea,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.

Another lynchpin is the play of New Mexico transfer Devon Dampier. His accuracy and decision-making have improved significantly from last season.

Dampier is completing 73% of his passes and has not committed a turnover through three games. He has tallied 826 total yards and eight total touchdowns for the Utes.

Figuring out how to defend him is a real challenge for Texas Tech.

“I wish they had a pro-style quarterback. I’d feel better,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “He’s a dual threat, man. He does a phenomenal job of pulling it down whenever he gets pressure, so we’ve got to stay in our rush lanes. We’ve got to be really disciplined and coordinated in our rush without him getting out.”

The Red Raiders (3-0) will also present a challenge to Utah’s defense.

Texas Tech has an equally electric quarterback leading a dynamic and proficient offense rivaling what the Utes have put together. The Red Raiders lead the FBS in scoring (58.0 ppg) and rank second in total offense (602.7 ypg).

“Texas Tech (has) phenomenal numbers on offense right now,” Whittingham said. “Over 600 yards a game, nearly 60 points, good on third down, good in the red zone, balanced attack, rushing for over 200, and throwing for nearly 400. Really, no weakness. They’ve had an outstanding start to their season.”

It all starts with Behren Morton’s proficiency in running the offense.

Morton is the Big 12’s top passer, with 923 yards and 11 touchdowns on 70.4% passing through three games. He threw for a career-high 464 yards in a 45-14 victory over Oregon State. It marked the second career 400-yard game for Morton.

Utah and Texas Tech are facing one another for the first time since 1973. The Red Raiders won both previous meetings in the series, both played in Lubbock. Texas Tech prevailed in its 1972 matchup 45-2 and won in 1973 29-22.

-Field Level Media

Texas Tech's Coy Eakin celebrates his touchdown catch with Behren Morton (2) against Arkansas-Pine Bluff during a non-conference football game, Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Behren Morton, No. 21 Texas Tech look to keep rolling vs. Oregon St.

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High-flying No. 21 Texas Tech will welcome another test on the eve of Big 12 play when Oregon State comes to Lubbock, Texas on Saturday.

The Red Raiders (2-0) moved up three spots in the AP Poll this past week after a 62-14 thrashing of Kent State. Texas Tech played well on both sides of the ball, putting up 601 yards and holding the Golden Flashes to just 229.

There was an incident after the game, however, as starting cornerback Amier Boyd was arrested Sunday night and charged with reckless driving. Boyd, who had an interception in the Red Raiders’ first game of the year, was released Monday morning and could face potential punishments of a fine of up to $200, up to 30 days in jail or both.

After starting the last game, Boyd has since been moved to a backup on the official depth chart. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said that Boyd’s situation will be handled internally.

Boyd’s status for Saturday may be up in the air, but the Red Raiders are still a force to be reckoned with, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Having put up at least 60 points in each of its first two games, Texas Tech is currently third in the nation in total offense (604.5 yards per game). The Red Raiders are led at quarterback by experienced starter Behren Morton, who has thrown for 459 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

There were some questions heading into the year if the Red Raiders could replicate the production of longtime running back Tahj Brooks, who broke the Texas Tech’s all-time rushing record, which had stood for 28 years, last season.

So far, the Red Raiders’ three-headed monster at running back has been productive. Adam Hill, J’Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey all have put up at least 100 yards across the first two contests, totaling 415 yards and four touchdowns among them.

“Guys that I think have really stepped up, I’ve been proud of all the running backs,” McGuire said Monday. “Anytime you’re replacing the all-time leading rusher, and you’ve had a group in there that has played (as well as) the way they’ve played, I’ve been proud of them.”

While Texas Tech has looked unstoppable through the first two weeks, Oregon State (0-2) has lived at the opposite end of that spectrum.

The Beavers are coming off a disappointing 36-27 loss to Fresno State. Oregon State played well enough to win, outplaying the Bulldogs in the box score.

Oregon State finished with 210 more yards, nine more third-down conversions and nearly 15 more minutes of possession. Costly turnovers and special teams mistakes proved to be the team’s undoing.

Starting quarterback Maalik Murphy has aired it out to start the year with 615 passing yards, good for 14th in the country, but has a 4-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

This will be the Beavers’ first road game of the season. They will look to change their recent road fortunes, entering this week having lost seven of their last 10 games away from home.

“They’re an extremely talented team, and they’ve got talent and speed all over, so it’s going to be just a challenge from that standpoint,” Beavers coach Trent Bray said on Monday.

This will be just the second time these two teams have played and the first since 1959, a 15-14 Texas Tech win.

–Field Level Media