Joey McGuire and the Texas Tech Red Raiders are already in party mode. It’s a date with history for No. 13 Texas Tech, as the team heads to Kansas State on Saturday, November 1, hoping to recreate the magic of 2008. McGuire and Co. are eyeing their best nine-game start to a season and their first road win versus the Wildcats since 2008. If the excitement meter is topping the charts, here comes more information to make them celebrate.

Their quarterback, Behren Morton, is ready to step onto the gridiron this weekend after being sidelined for a long time. On October 28, the Sports Director at KLBK Sports, Cole Banker, shared a clip of McGuire’s latest presser. The head coach said Morton waited until the sweetest time to make a comeback. McGuire said the team’s internal analytics showed that starting Morton, recovering from injury, didn’t significantly improve their chances of winning compared to using backups Will Hammond or Mitch Griffis.

“So you’re like, does it make sense? Because Behren wants to play, you know, and he’s a different person. He’s got a high pain tolerance. He’s really tough,” said McGuire.

In fact, Morton suffered an injury on a sack early in the second quarter after guiding the No. 7 Red Raiders at that time to an 18-0 lead against Kansas. McGuire’s quarterback left the game shortly after a pass rusher came down on Morton’s leg. During the team’s 42-0 win over Oklahoma State, Morton was suited up and ready to go only if needed. In that game, McGuire and co. witnessed another injury setback, as Hammond suffered a season-ending ACL injury. That’s when Griffis took over. Days later, McGuire disclosed the reason.

He said Morton could have started, but Texas Tech chose another week of healing. “You know, he probably would have fought me to get out there and maybe, you know, giving it a try. But being able to have a couple of weeks to get ready for this game has definitely helped him. And he feels really good,” said the head coach.  

Starting Hammond against Arizona State did not pay off for McGuire and co. well. He made his second consecutive start, which led to the Red Raiders tasting their first loss, 26-22, against Arizona State. Morton has been sharp through six games, completing 68.4% of his throws for 1,501 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just three picks. Texas Tech will count on him to finally snap the Manhattan curse. Meanwhile, Kansas State would ensure that McGuire and co. are throttled. 

Joey McGuire and Texas Tech kept on high alert by Kansas State

Texas Tech knows too well who they will face. “They’re playing their best football right now,” said McGuire. Following a sluggish 1-3 start that included a last-second escape against North Dakota, Kansas State seems to have finally found its groove. And the man responsible for it has to be their head coach, Chris Kleiman. 

He kept his players on high alert. “I told them early in the week that average wasn’t going to be good enough,” said the Kansas State head coach. “We needed to raise our level of play, and they did that. So, it was fun to see us put a game together like that and get a big win.” Just like McGuire has high hopes for Morton, Klieman is ready with their quarterback, Avery Johnson.

He’s kicked things into high gear over his last four outings, averaging 235 passing yards with nine touchdowns to just one pick, plus three more scores on the ground, two of them coming against Kansas. Is that enough of a threat for McGuire and co.?

Already, McGuire opened up about how these games are taking a toll on his mental and physical health. But even then, he would always sign up for this life. “Man, these games are taking years off my life. But I would not want other lives,” he confessed.

Well, the Wildcats boast a potent combination. Matt Wells, a confident junior quarterback and experienced offensive coordinator, adds intrigue to a matchup that could challenge the Red Raiders’ defense. Meanwhile, Avery Johnson’s recent hot streak has left defenses struggling, as he turns plays into spectacular moments.

Joey McGuire’s staff and Texas Tech DC Shiel Wood know what’s coming. That’s why he has already preached discipline, urging the Red Raiders boys to “stay in your gap” and protect every lane. So, Behren Morton’s return won’t be enough for McGuire’s boat to stay afloat. They need to put in effort.