Texas Tech Defense Dominates Rankings | Texas Tech Red Raiders Football News

Texas Tech is firing on all cylinders heading into 2026, with head coach Joey McGuire confident they’ll outdo last year’s success—backed by six players named to ESPN’s top 100, five of them elite defenders. A.J. Holmes Jr., the breakout star who went from backup to All-American with 4.5 sacks, earned Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. Cornerback Brice Pollock leads the conference with five interceptions. Tight end Terrance Carter Jr. is the lone offensive standout but a massive weapon in the passing game. The defense also gets major upgrades via transfers Trey White and Adam Trick, bringing proven pass-rushing firepower to fill holes left by NFL draft departures. With depth, talent, and momentum, Texas Tech is poised for another championship-caliber season. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/2f03623e122d0996