Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire knows exactly what kind of team he’s getting ready to face in the College Football Playoff, and he didn’t waste much time breaking it down. When asked about the matchup with Oregon, McGuire compared the Ducks to Utah, a team Tech straight up ran off the field back in September, 34-10. It wasn’t a jab at the Utes. If anything, it was a way to make a point about just how deep and physical this Oregon team really is.
“If it were one team, a little bit different quarterback, even though he’s a dual-threat,” McGuire said. “But Utah, as far as their physicality on defense. I’d say a little bit like Utah. They’re very physical up front.” He went on to point out two guys specifically, saying, “The guys that really jump off tape are No. 1 and No. 52. Extremely physical.”
That’s classic Joey McGuire. Give credit to both Oregon and the Big 12, keep it real, and let his guys know they’ve got a challenge in front of them. But that Utah game is sitting in the back of everyone’s mind. If Tech shows up like they did that day, they’re going to have a shot to win it all.
McGuire didn’t stop at the defensive front. He made sure to mention Oregon’s three-headed monster at running back, too. “They’ve got three running backs that play at such a high level,” he said. “Two are true freshmen. They’re home run hitters. They’re very explosive.” He pointed to the Ducks’ recent win over James Madison as proof, saying, “You look up, and they’ve already scored 30-plus points. I think they had five touchdowns on five drives.”
That kind of pace and punch puts pressure on a defense really fast. And McGuire knows it’s going to come down to the little things. “We’ve got to do a good job of making them drive the field,” he said.
That’s what this whole week is about. Situational football, smart execution, and not letting Oregon’s speed and depth flip the game early. McGuire’s been in enough big games to know what to expect, and he’s not hyping up Oregon because he’s worried. He’s laying it out like it is. Oregon’s loaded. Tech’s got to be sharp. Let’s see what happens when the lights come on.
