Texas Tech looks to build a sustainable powerhouse in the Big 12 through the 2026 high school recruiting class.
LUBBOCK, Texas - Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was hired this week, and the first major domino in the Wolverines' 2026 recruiting class fell in favor of the Texas Tech Red Raiders - the new Big 12 champions and No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Days after Moore's firing and arrest, four-star tight end Matt "Moose" Ludwig flipped his commitment from Michigan to Texas Tech. The Billings, MT native is the No. 1 player in the state, No. 9 tight end in the class and a top-200 overall recruit in the country. He is a consensus four-star prospect across all major recruiting sites.
The verbal adds to an already stellar 2026 cycle for Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders.
Ludwig's addition has launched Tech from No. 7 to No. 1 ranking among all Big 12 schools, according to On3.
The class is led by two five-stars who are each ranked in the top-15 nationally - edge rusher LaDamion Guyton out of Savannah, GA and offensive tackle Felix Ojo from Mansfield Lake Ridge in the DFW area. Other four-star signings include dynamic two-way star Kaegan Ash, hometown kid Chase Campbell (Wolfforth Frenship HS) and running back Ace Rowden.
"Ludwig is arguably the best prospect to come out of the Big Sky State in the last decade, if not longer," says 247Sports' Greg Biggins.
Ojo was quick to let his approval be known on social media.
"BOOM! The Dynasty Is Coming And Most Aren’t Ready For It," he said.
While "dynasties" are formed through extended periods of continued excellence, the Red Raiders have a phenomenal foundation to build on after a historic 2025 season.
Texas Tech steamrolled through the regular season at a program-tying 11-1 record, only to achieve the single-season wins record with a dominant Big 12 Championship win over BYU in the program's first appearance in the game.
Offensively, senior quarterback Behren Morton powered the Big 12's most prolific offense with a band of dynamic weapons. Defensively, the Red Raiders were one of the biggest stories in college football as Jacob Rodriguez and David Bailey terrorized opposing offenses and forced turnovers at will.
Rodriguez finished his final season in Lubbock as the consensus best defensive player in the country. He walked away with the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Butkus Award (best linebacker), Nagurski Trophy (best defender), Lombardi Award (best lineman/linebacker), and Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year).
"J-Rod" still has work to do as he leads a Red Raider team that has national championship aspirations in mind.
But if this high school recruitment momentum is indication, the Red Raiders are built to last in the Big 12 and beyond.
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