As we will do throughout this football season, HawgBeat went behind enemy lines to gain insight on the Texas Tech Red Raiders with Inside The Double T lead reporter Justin Apodaca.
Texas Tech had a strong season in the Big 12, as it finished with an 8-4 (6-3 Big 12) overall record with victories over teams like playoff-participant Arizona State, then-No. 10 Iowa State and mutual opponent Oklahoma State.
Under McGuire's leadership, Texas Tech has accumulated a 23-15 (16-11 Big 12) overall record in three seasons. To close the 2024 regular season, the Red Raiders boasted the No. 8 total offense (459.8 YPG) and No. 123 total defense (451.9 YAPG) in the country.
This will mark the 38th meeting between the two teams, as Arkansas leads the series 29-8. The two programs played and split games played in 2014 and 2015, with the Red Raiders coming out on top most recently.
Here is what Apodaca had to say about Friday's matchup, which is set to kick off at 6 p.m. CT at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri...
1. How has the transfer portal affected Texas Tech's roster for the bowl game?
Apodaca: "Texas Tech is relatively unaffected by the transfer portal heading into the Liberty Bowl as a few of the notable players who have transferred out, and even committed to new schools, are expected to participate for the Red Raiders.
"Head coach Joey McGuire cites his philosophy for letting players play in the game as part of helping them, and letting them play after “earning the right” to do so based on their contributions this season. Tech will have WRs Jordan Brown and Brady Boyd alongside DT Tre’von McAlpine and QB Jake Strong available in Memphis."
2. Texas Tech had an outstanding offense all season, but will be without its starting quarterback. What's the scouting report on backup Will Hammond and what kind of offense do the Red Raiders run?
Apodaca: "Will Hammond is an extremely impressive person to be around and he has been impressive over the limited stretches he has appeared as a true freshman this season. Hammond, replacing Morton due to the shoulder injury, is a high-level processor of coverage while also being a threat to run. Hammond came in after the half against TCU in the loss in October and executed the offense well; most are excited to see Hammond in a full game.
"As for Tech’s offense, it is a bit of an unknown heading into this one. OC Zach Kittley, who ran a balanced offense that could do it all, spread you out and throw it, or get into 12 personnel and run it behind Tahj Brooks. Tech’s WR coach Justin Johnson will call plays for the bowl while being down leading receiver Josh Kelly and potentially without Brooks, who hasn’t decided on his availability for the bowl game."
3. It seems like Texas Tech struggled defensively at times this season. What are its weakpoints? Its strengths?
Apodaca: "Struggling is an understatement. Tech’s defense had a really, really rough season and was one of the worst pass defenses from a yardage perspective in the country. Tech’s weaknesses are it’s pass rush and it’s coverage unit, but also have struggled to contain a mobile quarterback under McGuire, specifically against Washington State and new Oklahoma QB John Mateer back in September.
"Tech’s defensive bright spot is redshirt junior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who led the team in tackles and pressures this season. Rodriguez is the heart of the unit and is coming back for yet another year for 2025."
4. Not a bowl game question, but it seems like Texas Tech has reeled in an impressive transfer portal haul so far. What are the contributing factors for that?
Apodaca: "This all likely comes back to that TCU game where Tech saw a two-touchdown lead slip away, a result that ultimately held Tech out of the Big 12 championship game, and possibly more. Tech’s lead donor group saw that in person, and ultimately didn’t want to see it again. However, Tech’s success in the portal is also due to the university, head coach, collective and personnel department’s alignment with each other.
"Tech positioned themselves very well to do things in the transfer portal and were able to strike, going 17 for 17 on their portal targets and being able to finish the roster ahead of the late December dead period. Tech’s targets, and financial backing, allowed for this to happen, and they’re hopeful they’ve created a roster that can win the Big 12 and compete for more in 2025."
5. How do you see this game playing out and can you give a score prediction?
Apodaca: "This one is going to be fascinating. Both teams are going to be somewhat shells of their regular season selves and I have enjoyed watching Taylen Green and the Arkansas run game on film over the past couple of weeks. With the amount of portal entrants for the Hogs and Tech being down two of, if not three, of their best players offensively, it’s going to be a ton of unknowns. The one thing that I do know is that McGuire & Co. are taking this one extremely seriously for a multitude of reasons.
"McGuire believes that a win in the Liberty Bowl could help Tech in the 2025 pre-season rankings, and ultimately with the perception of the program come selection time next season. A win would also mean the first nine-win season for Tech since 2009 and a fourth bowl win in as many years, something the program has never done. For that reason, and the unknowns heading into this one, I’ll lean towards the Red Raiders in a close one."
Score Prediction: 31-28, Texas Tech
