Texas Tech University Athletics
McGuire recognized on Dodd Trophy watch list
October 22, 2025 | Football
Joey McGuire was one of 24 coaches recognized on the Dodd Trophy watch list Wednesday
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech's successful start to its season earned Joey McGuire a spot on the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year watch list Wednesday, recognizing the nation's top head coach.
McGuire has led the Red Raiders to a No. 14 ranking in the latest Associated Press poll following Texas Tech's best start to a season since 2013. The Red Raiders are 6-1 this season and in the hunt of the Big 12 title race with a 3-1 record in conference play heading into a Saturday afternoon tilt with Oklahoma State inside Jones AT&T Stadium.
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Texas Tech's early success through the front half of the season has been the result of one of the nation's top offenses combined with a stifling defense. The Red Raiders are one of only two FBS teams leading their respective conferences for both scoring offense and scoring defense entering this weekend, joining Toledo. Texas Tech is averaging an impressive 43.9 points per game this season, which ranks fourth in the country, while its defense is giving up only 14.1 points a contest, the seventh-lowest clip nationally.
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Offensively, the Red Raiders are one of only two teams nationally to rank in the top 20 for both passing yards and rushing yards per game as Texas Tech is averaging an impressive 302.7 yards a contest through the air to go along with 215.1 yards on the ground. Texas Tech is the Big 12 leader in both categories as well as in total offense per game (517.9).
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On the other side of the ball, Texas Tech ranks as one of the nation's top defenses thanks to a talented core that features multiple All-America candidates in linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, defensive lineman Lee Hunter and outside linebackers David Bailey and Romello Height. Bailey enters this week as the nation's leader with 10.5 sacks through seven games this season, including 8.0 over Texas Tech's four Big 12 games alone.
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Texas Tech enters this week as the FBS leader for rushing defense, giving up only 64.3 yards per game on the ground, 10 yards fewer than the next-closest team in James Madison and a full 15 yards better than the next power conference school in Oklahoma (80.4). Texas Tech is also tied for sixth in the FBS for sacks (25.0), 11th for total yards allowed per game (276.4) and 12th overall with 13 takeaways this season.
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Thanks to its balance, Texas Tech is the only team in the country with six wins of at least 20 points this season. The Red Raiders boast an average point differential of plus-29.7, which is tied with Oregon for third in the country behind only Indiana (32.3) and Ohio State (30.6), the top two teams in this week's AP poll.
Texas Tech's successful start has pushed McGuire to a 29-17 record as head coach of the Red Raiders. With a win Saturday over Oklahoma State, McGuire would become the third Texas Tech head coach to reach 30 wins in only 47 games or less, joining only Pete Cawthon (1930-40) and Jim Carlen (1970-74).
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc. and presented by PNC Bank, The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, the award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
The watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc., taking into consideration each program's graduation rate, Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, on-field success thus far for the 2025 season and Academic Progress Rate (APR).
A panel consisting of previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The winner of the 2025 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Kickoff between Texas Tech and Oklahoma State is slated for 3 p.m. Saturday with coverage provided on ESPNU and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
