The Red Raiders in 2024: 5 bold Positive Texas Tech football predictions for 2024 season

The Texas Tech football team is set to begin its 2024 season, aiming to correct the mistakes of the previous year.

Unlike last year, the Red Raiders aren’t attracting much preseason attention this time around, which might actually work to their advantage as Joey McGuire enters his third year as head coach. Staying under the radar can be beneficial, allowing Texas Tech to craft its own story as the season progresses.

What will those stories look like? Here are five bold predictions for the Red Raiders in 2024 that could influence their journey.

Tahj Brooks won’t become Texas Tech football’s all-time leading rusher

Let’s kick things off with a prediction that might be seen as the boldest among Tech fans—and perhaps the coaching staff as well.

Texas Tech has launched an entire marketing initiative focused on Tahj Brooks’ quest to become the program’s all-time leading rusher. He needs 1,168 yards to reach this milestone, which breaks down to just under 100 yards per game for the regular season. This seems achievable for someone who averaged 118.3 yards per game in 2023.

However, last year’s offensive line was significantly more seasoned than this year’s expected lineup, which is anticipated to feature several first-time starters. The key question is whether this new group can provide the same level of run blocking for Brooks as last year’s line did.

There’s also the question of what kind of system offensive coordinator Zach Kittley intends to implement. He previously worked at Western Kentucky, which favored a pass-heavy approach. He has acknowledged that calling as many run plays as he did last year was challenging, primarily due to quarterback injuries and Brooks’ exceptional performance. Will he still be inclined to call those run plays now that he has more options at receiver and tight end?

If Brooks doesn’t accumulate a significant portion of the 1,168 yards in the first seven or eight games, the likelihood of reaching that goal during the regular season diminishes. Would Tech continue to prioritize getting the ball to Brooks to fulfill their promise of helping him set the record, even if it risks costing them games later in the season?

Red Raiders become bowl eligible before Halloween

How can I say this delicately? Texas Tech’s early schedule leaves a lot to be desired, though it’s not entirely their fault. They played a role in keeping the rivalry alive for Oregon and Oregon State, so now they have Washington State on the horizon—considering Tech’s recent struggles on the road, this matchup might be tougher than it looks. Additionally, McGuire didn’t arrange for back-to-back games against Arizona State and Cincinnati to kick off conference play; that was a scheduling favor from the Big 12.

In short, the Red Raiders should realistically aim for a 5-1 record by their first bye week, which falls on the week of October 12. Following that, they have a home game against Baylor on October 19 and a road game at TCU on October 26—both of which are winnable. This should spare them the stress of November, where they would otherwise have to fight just to secure a postseason spot.

If Texas Tech isn’t at least 6-2 by Halloween, something has clearly gone wrong.

Three receivers have at least 600 yards for the season, but which ones?

This is, of course, contingent on Behren Morton staying healthy throughout the season. If my initial prediction holds true and Brooks doesn’t secure the rushing record, it likely means the offense will focus more on the passing game, and there are plenty of viable options for that.

The last time Texas Tech had three receivers each gain over 600 yards in a season was in 2018, when Antoine Wesley (1,410), Ja’Deion High (804), and T.J. Vasher (687) achieved that milestone. Last year’s leading receiver, Xavier White, had only 556 yards, which marked the lowest total for the team’s top receiver since running back Sammy Morris had 386 yards in 1999. That won’t be the case this year.

There are four key candidates to reach the 600-yard mark this season: Josh Kelly, Caleb Douglas, Coy Eakin, and Micah Hudson. I’m picking Kelly, Douglas, and Eakin to accomplish this. But why stop there? I believe Kelly will finish as the leading receiver with over 1,000 yards, Eakin will have the most receptions, and Douglas will lead in touchdowns.

The defense will be fine but inconsistent

Much of the preseason discussion regarding the Texas Tech defense revolves around the number of players who may see considerable playing time. Coaches anticipate that around six or seven interior linemen will regularly take the field, much like the outside linebacking group.

As the season begins, the key leaders of the defense are expected to be Ben Roberts and Jacob Rodriguez. This linebacker duo will have substantial responsibilities and anchor the defense. Beyond them, however, there remain many uncertainties about who will emerge as impactful players.

That said, it doesn’t mean other players won’t shine during the season; they just may do so inconsistently from game to game. This variability will likely affect the overall performance of the defense, but it shouldn’t be harmful to the team—merely a challenge that arises.

One of Tech’s top assistants will become a head coach elsewhere

For clarification, this discussion centers on associate head coach Kenny Perry, defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, and offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. Kittley is the most promising candidate due to his youth—he just turned 33—and his strong offensive acumen. Schools often seek out this type of coach to revitalize their programs.

DeRuyter last served as a head coach at Fresno State from 2012 to 2016, where he had a strong start with a 20-6 record in his first two seasons, but then struggled with a 10-14 record in his final two. Having begun his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at Air Force in 1985, he may be looking for another chance to lead a program.

Perry, responsible for special teams and running backs, would likely excel in an introductory press conference. He balances professionalism with a sense of humor, often making jokes while analyzing running strategies. He interviewed for the UTEP job before returning to Texas Tech this year, making him a strong candidate for future opportunities.

All three coaches have contracts extending through the 2025 season, though their buyout clauses are reasonable enough for even smaller schools to consider hiring them.

Bonus: Raider Alley concert series will kick up a few notches this year

No offense to Smash Mouth, but the quality of the Raider Alley pre-game concert series has been lacking in recent years. I have a feeling that will change in 2024, starting with Natasha Bedingfield as the first concert—definitely a solid choice.

Here are some names I’d love to see for future pre-game performances: a return of Savage Garden, Tevin Campbell reprising his role as Powerline from “A Goofy Movie,” K-Ci & JoJo, maybe some Hanson, Corey Feldman and his angels, Craig David, Flo Rida (he might be more budget-friendly than expected), and the legendary Michelle Branch.