Joey McGuire created soaring expectations for Texas Tech football in the 2026 season. The head coach earns a chance to claim a program first back-to-back Big 12 titles. And that now includes welcoming back past College Football Transfer Portal additions Quinten Joyner and Micah Hudson.
The former is back following ACL surgery on his knee. He finally earns his chance to show his skills that made him a past coveted signing of USC and coach Lincoln Riley.
The latter, however, endured a more polarizing journey. He previously left for Texas A&M in 2024 after rumblings of facing too much pressure at Texas Tech. Now the past five-star wide receiver has returned.
McGuire got real on his expectations for both after speaking with college football insider for On3/Rivals Pete Nakos.
“I put way too much pressure and expectation on him, and he put it on himself,” McGuire said to Nakos. “Then year two was kind of like, ‘Hey, let’s get back to just making it about football.’ Not all the other, how I was recruited, how many stars I have.”
Meanwhile, Joyner is “totally cleared” to play following his knee injury.
“And the good thing is, the last couple of weeks he was able to do some seven-on-seven,” McGuire said.
So Joyner expands the offense further. Plus can alleviate pressure on projected quarterback starter Kirk Francis, who’s stepping in following the high-profile departure of Brendan Sorsby amid his gambling fallout.
McGuire adds that Joyner joins a deep backfield
“So we should have a really fresh running back room going into Week 1,” McGuire said.
The 2025 College Football Playoffs team earned a No. 12 ranking in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Joey McGuire created soaring expectations for Texas Tech football in the 2026 season. The head coach earns a chance to claim a program first back-to-back Big 12 titles. And that now includes welcoming back past College Football Transfer Portal additions Quinten Joyner and Micah Hudson. The former is back following ACL surgery on his knee.
