Texas Tech alums and fans have been poking fun at Texas A&M for as long as Tech has been a school. In West Texas, making fun of Aggies isn’t just a pastime—it’s practically an Olympic sport. And now, Aggie fans have given Red Raiders yet another reason to chuckle.
Some A&M supporters actually believe their school can lure Grant McCasland away from Texas Tech to fill their head coaching vacancy. Yes, you read that right. There are people in College Station who think McCasland would leave a program that just made an Elite Eight run for one that hasn’t sniffed that level in decades.
Buzz Williams’ Exit Leaves Aggies Scrambling
The latest round of Aggie wishful thinking comes after A&M lost their head coach, Buzz Williams, to Maryland. To be fair, Williams wasn’t a disaster at A&M. In six seasons, he posted a respectable 120-73 record and took the Aggies to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. However, his inability to get past the second round frustrated many in College Station.
Now, with their program stuck in neutral, Aggie fans are convinced that they can make a splash hire—one big enough to elevate A&M basketball to a new level. But their belief that McCasland could be that hire? That’s pure delusion.
Why McCasland Would Never Leave Texas Tech for A&M
Let’s be clear: Texas Tech is a better basketball program than Texas A&M. Not just right now, but historically. Moving from Lubbock to College Station would be a massive step down in McCasland’s career, and here’s why:
1. Tech’s Tournament Success Blows A&M Out of the Water
Since 2018, Texas Tech has made four trips to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. That includes:
Two Elite Eight appearances (2018, 2024)
A Final Four run and National Championship Game appearance (2019)
Meanwhile, Texas A&M? They haven’t made the Sweet 16 since 2018 and have only done so three times since 1980. And if you’re wondering about their Elite Eight history, don’t bother—they’ve never been there.
McCasland just led Texas Tech to the Elite Eight in his second season. Why would he leave for a program that struggles to get past the first weekend of March Madness?
2. McCasland’s Contract & Pay Make It Unlikely
McCasland is under contract with Texas Tech through the 2029-30 season after signing a lucrative extension before this season. He’s already set to make $4 million in 2025-26, and it’s widely expected that Tech will increase his salary again after his latest tournament success.
For A&M to pry him away, they’d have to:
Offer him significantly more than what Tech is already paying
Pay Texas Tech a massive buyout
Yes, A&M has money. But they’ve never shown the willingness to invest in basketball at the level required to land a coach of McCasland’s caliber.
3. Texas Tech’s Basketball Program is Just Better
Beyond the money and tournament success, Texas Tech is simply a better basketball job than A&M.
Facilities: Tech has some of the best basketball facilities in the nation, putting A&M’s to shame.
Fan Support: While A&M is a football-first school, Texas Tech has a rabid basketball fanbase that has created one of the best home-court advantages in the country.
Winning Culture: Tech has proven it can compete at the highest level of college basketball. A&M hasn’t.
McCasland himself has made it clear how much he loves being at Texas Tech. Before the Elite Eight, he spoke about why Lubbock is home for him and his family:
"When you get to Lubbock and you live in Lubbock, it changes your life. It's, like, one of the best places you'll ever live. It is the best place for us."
That doesn’t sound like a guy looking for an exit.
Aggies Are Dreaming—And Red Raiders Are Laughing
At the end of the day, the idea that McCasland would leave Texas Tech for A&M is laughable. The Aggies are desperate, but desperation doesn’t equal reality.
