Joey McGuire and his Red Raiders cleared the pre-season win total set by Las Vegas by one game. That is a pretty simple barometer to view this season as a success. But all wins are not created equal. So which ones just meant more to the picture of this past season in Lubbock? We now dissect all eight wins and determine which of the 2024 Texas Tech victories were the most significant.
Ranking 2024 Texas Tech Victories
8. North Texas
A 66-21 win over an AAC team that finished 6-7 doesn’t register any major joy for a team playing in a P4 conference. The largest margin on the scoreboard was 52-7 in the third quarter. Texas Tech scored 35 straight points in the second quarter thanks to multiple turnovers. It was exactly the type of result expected when holding a distinct talent advantage.
7. Abilene Christian
So why would the win over an 8-4 FCS program find itself with more importance in these rankings of the 2024 Texas Tech victories? Because Texas Tech tried to find a way to lose this game. Over the last four seasons, the Red Raiders have played three different FCS opponents in a one-score game. It was also the opening game of the season and the vibes quickly felt like they did in week one of the 2023 season against Wyoming. But, thanks to a two-point conversion stop, Texas Tech avoided disaster in a 52-51 overtime victory.
6. Cincinnati
When the Bearcats came to Lubbock, Texas Tech was looking to start Big 12 play 2-0 for the first time since 2013. Cincinnati was off to a surprising start as well. The winner of this game was going to grab some early positioning as a potential contender in the Big 12 title race. The Red Raiders leaned heavily on Tahj Brooks as he carried the ball 32 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns. In a trend that would eventually lead to the end of defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter in Lubbock, the defensive struggles kept the Bearcats in the game. But notching a 44-41 win over Scott Satterfield’s squad was finally putting a bad Washington State loss in the review view mirror.
5. West Virginia
The final game of the season presented a unique challenge for the Red Raiders. With a Colorado win on the day before, it finally mathematically eliminated Texas Tech from Big 12 contention. Neal Brown’s team was coming to town and had played better on the road in 2024. Would this Texas Tech team just be mailing it in on senior day? The answer was an emphatic no. The 52-15 win over West Virginia was their largest margin of victory over any Big 12 opponent all season. It was a reflection of a team living up to the culture that has now developed in the shiny new football facilities in Lubbock. This victory was the one that cleared the preseason win total and gave the home crowd a good note to close the season on in 2024.
4. Arizona
While Brent Brennan’s team turned out to not exactly look like the 10-win team from 2023, they still had Tetairoa McMillian putting up big numbers on a four-win team. To this point in the season and the first two years of McGuire’s tenure, the Red Raiders had struggled mightily on the road. At the time, Arizona was still hovering around the top 25 after beating Utah and possessing a 3-1 record. Even though this win aged like moldy cheese, this is one of the 2024 Texas Tech victories that helped springboard this season to future successes.
The defense turned arguably its best defensive effort of the season given the offensive talent it had to corral. With the 28-22 win over Arizona, the road struggling narrative that was following McGuire was finally starting to erode. This would also show up later in the season in what would be the biggest win of the season.
3. Oklahoma State
Why is a 56-48 victory over a team that went winless in Big 12 play ranked so high amongst the 2024 Texas Tech victories? This was not a case of catching them early in the season when everyone thought Mike Gundy’s team was a Big 12 contender. Oklahoma State had already been eliminated from bowl game eligibility. Dating back to 2009, Texas Tech was 2-12 against the Pokes.
It was also Senior Day in Stillwater, so there was an expectation that they would throw the kitchen sink at a team that still had high aspirations for the end of the season. Sure enough, Oklahoma State came ready as the Poke offense played its best offense game of the season (in part because of bad defensive play by the Red Raiders). But the Texas Tech offense turned the clock back with an “Old school Big 12 shootout.” They avoided the toe stub against a bad team. It was another example of the growth of this team throughout the season.
2. Arizona State
When the Red Raiders started Big 12 play, Cam Skattebo was still under many football radars. For that matter, no one had any clue what the Sun Devils were capable of at this point in the season. But when it comes to the 2024 Texas Tech victories, this one aged like fine leather cowboy boots. The 30-22 victory over Kenny Dillingham’s team was close throughout the game. It also was a demonstration that this team could win on the backs of its defense doing enough. Texas Tech only scored one touchdown after the first quarter. Winning when one side of the ball isn’t at its best is a sign of a well-balanced program. This win over Arizona State illustrated just how close Texas Tech is to breaking through.
The Best Of The 2024 Texas Tech Victories Was Over Iowa State
Without a doubt, the best of the 2024 Texas Tech victories was a road win over Iowa State. Not only was it the biggest win of this season, it was the biggest win of the McGuire tenure. We mentioned early about the road woes McGuire began to overcome with the Arizona win. But it was more than simply beating the Big 12 runner-up. The week prior, Texas Tech had fumbled away a golden opportunity against TCU. A win against the Horned Frogs would have kept the Red Raiders in control of their destiny to play for a Big 12 championship. Instead, Texas Tech came into the game on a two-game losing streak. It appears the wheels were about to fall off the 2024 wagon. Iowa State was 7-0 seeking the first ever 8-0 start in program history and were ranked 11th in the country.
Coaches will tell the public they don’t believe in moral victories. Given the recent history of Texas Tech, the expectation by many was simply to not get embarrassed on the road to a top-tier team. If the Red Raiders had been on the other side of the 23-22 score, it would have stung but would have likely not lingered past Saturday night. During the game, this team never had a lead greater than one score and Iowa State scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:11 left in the game. Fate was on the Cyclone side until it wasn’t. In the drive of the season, Brooks capped off the 71-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run giving the Red Raiders the victory. This victory was the type of win that should come to mind with hearing McGuire’s Brand as “the toughest, hardest working, most competitive team in the country.”
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