LAS VEGAS --Entering Year Three, Texas Tech has morphed in the image of head coach Joey McGuire. The new $250 million facility renovation will be complete by season's start. The Red Raiders will don new uniforms after a ten-year partnership with Adidas facilitated by Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes.

All the ingredients are there to be Texas's top team in the new Big 12. Now, Texas Tech needs to figure out it's road woes (3–8 in two seasons under McGuire) and slow starts. McGuire is confident they will.

Here are the biggest takeways from Tuesday's Big 12 Media Days.

A Different Behren Morton

Morton spent the last two seasons battling with Tyler Shough for the starting job. While he never opened the year as the starter, he's received valuable playing time and shown flashes of four-star potential, throwing for over 2,800 yards and 22 touchdowns over 19 appearances.

He said at Media Days he is 100 percent recovered from the shoulder surgery that limited his down field ability last season. 

“Whenever you know you’re the guy, it changes your leadership ability. It changes your voice in the locker room," McGuire told the ESPN desk. "That’s the biggest thing I’ve seen from Behren, and he’s embraced it. He is all about being QB1 and holding people accountable.”

It's Tahj Time

Tahj Brooks spent the afternoon handing out 'Tahj Tokens' with a QR Code tracking his journey to becoming Texas Tech's all-time leading rusher. The Manor product compiled 1,538 yards and 10 touchdowns. When asked about Brooks's workload in 2024, McGuire had a specific yardage total in mind.

“I know you’ll see 1,168 yards because 1,167 is what will tie the record, and we want to break the record,” McGuire said.

Offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, who led pass-happy offenses at Western Kentucky, said it took him until game five last year to realize Brooks was the identity of the offense. The Red Raiders know they have a workhorse this season. McGuire said he'd argue Brooks is the best running back in the country.

Five Star WR Micah Hudson is as advertised

A five star from Lake Belton, Hudson was the No.1-rated player in the state and highest-ranked recruit to ever sign with Texas Tech. McGuire said from the podium fans could expect to see Hudson in Week 1. 

“Being a high school coach, I coached four receivers that played college football, had great careers in college and were drafted in the NFL," McGuire told the ESPN desk. "And watching him (Hudson) in high school, I thought he was better than all four of them.”

But Hudson will be far from a one-man show. McGuire said three of their tight ends, including prized Arizona State transfer Jalin Conyers, have NFL grades. Wide receiver Coy Eakin had a breakout performance with seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown in the bowl game. Meanwhile, transfers Josh Kelly and Caleb Douglas provide mentors for Hudson.

“The offensive skill that we have on this roster is the biggest difference from Year One to Year Three,” McGuire said.

The Interior Defensive Line has More Depth

McGuire lost two defensive tackles, Tony Bradford Jr. and Jaylon Hutchings, who played more snaps than anyone in the country. That was because when McGuire got to Lubbock in Year One, he only had three defensive tackles he was comfortable playing. This year, he says there are seven. 

Emaurion Banks and Quincy Ledet Jr. are the favorites to start, but Rice transfer De'Braylon Carroll and former Nevada and Utah State tackle James Hansen should see playing time. 

Adidas/Patrick Mahomes Partnership

Texas Tech unveiled their new Adidas uniforms on Tuesday as part of a partnership with Super Bowl quarterback Patrick Mahomes. McGuire said Mahomes is the type of guy who's already proactively texting him asking if the program needs anything.

"We're playing in Lawrence, Kansas last year, and probably the large majority of the NFL on their bye week are going somewhere to take a break," McGuire said. "He's (Mahomes) on the sideline in Lawrence, Kansas, watching us play the Jayhawks. The guy just absolutely loves Texas Tech."