Playoff Contenders: Texas Tech and Notre Dame

As the College Football Playoff approaches, teams like Notre Dame and Texas Tech are intensifying their push for a spot. Recently, things took an interesting turn.

After a game against BYU, Texas Tech’s head coach, Joey McGuire, offered a lot of compliments to the Cougars. He noted their significant decision to join the Big 12 Conference, saying it was admirable how they chose to earn their place in this competitive landscape. However, he didn’t hold back from criticizing Notre Dame, the most prominent independent team, for not showing up to the press conference.

Though he never mentioned the school by name, it was pretty clear who he was referring to.

“Every time BYU joined the Big 12, I felt excited because they hold a lot of respect in college football. I really admire that they’re now playing alongside everyone else instead of just following their own schedule,” McGuire mentioned, suggesting that “everyone else” included Notre Dame. “They’ve earned their place like all the other teams, but some, well, some earn it through tough conference matchups,” he added.

This brings up a few important points.

First off, McGuire’s comments about Notre Dame’s supposedly “weak” schedule aren’t fully accurate. According to Sagarin Rankings, Texas Tech comes in at 68th in strength of schedule, while Notre Dame is significantly higher at 22nd.

So, it’s pretty safe to say that if both teams faced off, Notre Dame would likely secure more wins given the challenges they tackle on their schedule.

McGuire might want to think twice before critiquing other teams regarding their playoff paths.

The Red Raiders experienced a tough loss against a not-so-impressive Arkansas squad during last year’s Liberty Bowl. And before Texas Tech’s big financial boosts propelled them onto the NIL scene, they were probably looking at another lackluster bowl game this season.

For instance, their defensive line alone is costing them $7 million, including a hefty $3 million for David Bailey, a transfer from Stanford. Reports indicate that Texas Tech’s NIL budget is an eye-watering $28 million, surpassing even that of Ohio State, making them second only to Texas.

Many teams don’t drop $7 million on NIL deals in an entire season, let alone for just one player. While NIL contracts are legal and McGuire has been a commendable coach, when he makes generalized critiques about teams that seem to take an easier route, maybe it’s worth reflecting on his own situation first.