HOUSTON, Nov. 11, 2025 — Texas Tech head football coach Joey McGuire has been named Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Week after the No. 9 Red Raiders’ 29-7 win over No. 8 BYU.
The Red Raiders have moved up to No. 8 nationally in both the AP and AFCA polls. The win marks the first nine-win season for the Red Raiders since 2026 Heart of a Champion Award recipient Mike Leach led the Red Raiders to a nine-win season in 2009, and the 9-1 start marks Tech’s best 10-game start since 2008, when Leach led the Red Raiders to a 10-0 start.
The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate excellence in coaching, to honor Coach Bryant’s legacy and to raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. The coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement.
Texas Tech scored the game’s first 26 points and held BYU off the scoreboard until the 7:35 mark of the fourth quarter. The Red Raiders’ defensive performance marked the fewest points allowed to an AP Top-10 opponent since a 14-7 win over then-No. 8 Texas A&M in 1995.
The win makes the Red Raiders the only FBS team with two wins over CFP top-15 teams (No. 7 BYU and No. 13 Utah). All nine of Texas Tech’s wins this season have come by 22 points or more.
McGuire’s selection follows last week’s selection of NC State’s Dave Doeren and previous selections of Houston’s Willie Fritz, Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, UCLA’s Tim Skipper, Virginia’s Tony Elliott, Syracuse’s Fran Brown, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko, USF’s Alex Golesh and Florida State’s Mike Norvell.
Continuing through the remainder of the regular season, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards will recognize a coach weekly for leading their team to an exceptional victory. The National Coach of the Week award is chosen by a committee of national college football media members.
Fans can follow the lead up to January’s 40th annual Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards Ceremony at facebook.com/bryantawards, x.com/bryantawards or Instagram.com/bryantawards or the hashtag #BryantAwards. To attend the exclusive, VIP experience visit bryantawards.org.
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