Quarterbacks, RBs, and receivers flood the portal. Texas Tech must act decisively this January to secure crucial roster upgrades before opportunities vanish.
Even before the NCAA transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2, the winter market is already moving, and Texas Tech can't afford to watch it like a spectator.
This year's window runs from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16, and with no spring transfer portal on the calendar, it's a one-shot sprint for roster upgrades heading into 2026.
That short runway, paired with an action-packed coaching carousel nationwide, is setting up the kind of player movement that can reshape a conference in two weeks.
The early headline is simple ... quarterbacks are available, and experienced ones at that. Nebraska's Dylan Raiola plans to enter after two seasons, Florida's DJ Lagway is moving on after a coaching change, and multiple multi-year starters are hitting the market. TCU's Josh Hoover, Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby, Arizona State's Sam Leavitt, and Iowa State's Rocco Becht will be moving on after Matt Campbell's departure to Penn State.
That matters in Lubbock because the Big 12 rarely forgives uncertainty at quarterback. If Tech's staff sees even a hint of instability or a chance to upgrade decision-making, accuracy, or explosiveness, this is the kind of portal cycle where you pounce before the bidding turns into a feeding frenzy.
The portal isn't just a QB clearance rack, either.
There are running backs with real, proven production, including Jacksonville State's Cam Cook, who erupted for 1,659 yards and 16 touchdowns, and NC State's Hollywood Smothers with 939 yards and 5.9 per carry.
And yes, Texas is bleeding bodies at the position, too. CJ Baxter is among the backs headed out, adding more fuel to the statewide roster shuffle.
If Tech wants more punch in the run game or a back who can travel in pass protection, the market is stacked.
Receiver help is sitting right there, too. Colorado’s Omarion Miller is coming off a breakout year, Ohio's Chase Hendricks cracked 1,000 yards, and Kansas State's Jayce Brown is a legit Big 12-caliber playmaker entering the pool.
Iowa State's Brett Eskildsen is also leaving after Campbell's exit, another example of how coaching changes are turning rosters into discount aisles.
Defensively, the Big 12 and beyond are coughing up impact pieces.
Baylor linebacker Keaton Thomas (a tackle machine), Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine, and an intriguing safety name in Colorado's Tawfiq Byard. If Tech’s staff wants to get nastier on third down, the edge and linebacker group in this portal class has options.
Here's the bottom line for the Red Raiders.
January is the season. With only one portal window and a compressed timeline, Texas Tech's plan has to be sharp, aggressive, and targeted, because the programs that hesitate will be the ones explaining in September why they're still "building."