Texas Tech Proving That You Can Buy Wins

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated Sep 22, 2025 8:12 AM ET

In today’s NIL world, Texas Tech is a new age science experiment. Their extremely deep pockets bought an impressive transfer and high school recruiting class, but would that result in more wins on the field in 2025? After Saturday’s impressive 34-10 victory at No. 16 Utah (1-3) they are proving that it is possible.

Texas Tech has been a successful program since the 1990’s, but they seldom make noise nationally. This has been especially true over the last decade, when despite playing in six bowls, they had not finished the season in the AP Top 25.

Coming off an 8-5 season in 2024, they decided to take a more aggressive approach due to their available NIL funds. The result was a preseason No. 23 ranking, which was the first time they were ranked in the preseason poll since 2008. But the money they spent was for better than a No. 23 ranking. Saturday was the first real test to help achieve this goal.

Sep 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders tight end Terrance Carter Jr. (7) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the fourth quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Dominating wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kent State and Oregon State were nice, but Utah was the game everyone in Lubbock, Tex. had circled on their calendar. And the wait was worth it, as the Red Raiders showcased a dominant defense and very capable offense.

And transfers have played a huge part in this. On offense, wide receiver Reginald Virgil (Miami-Ohio) and tight end Terrance Carter Jr. (Louisiana) share the team lead with 17 receptions and four touchdowns each, while the offensive line has three new productive starters. On defense, the unit was more of an overhaul. David Bailey (Stanford) and Romello Height (Georgia Tech) have combined for six sacks, Brice Pollock (Mississippi State) leads the Big 12 with three interceptions and Skyler Gill-Howard (Northern Illinois) has helped anchor the interior of the line.

There are several tricky Big 12 games on the horizon, such as trips to Houston (3-0) and Arizona State (3-1) and home games against Kansas (3-1), No. 25 BYU (3-0) and UCF (3-0). But the Red Raiders have already positioned themselves very nicely to have a legitimate opportunity at a playoff spot.

And that is what the money was for. It wasn’t for a preseason No. 23 ranking or a trip to Valero Alamo Bowl. It was for much grander things, and as of right now, Texas Tech is on track to accomplish this.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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