Texas Tech Football released its 2018 schedule today, and the Red Raiders definitely have some favorable positioning.
Texas Tech Football has a favorable schedule in 2018, and regardless of how 2017 plays out (which includes the coaching staff), the Big 12 as a whole next season could be somewhat of a wildcard, especially with marquee quarterbacks departing.
Texas Tech kicks off the season with its non-conference slate at NRG Stadium in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff in Houston, Texas to take on the Ole Miss Rebels on Sept. 1. Tech comes back to Lubbock the following week to host Lamar, then Houston on Sept. 15 to round out the non-conference slate with favorable home field advantage, plus an at-large game.
If Kliff Kingsbury is still head coach, this will be an important stat headed into the non-conference schedule: Under Kingsbury, Tech is 14-3 in non-conference games, and 2-4 at neutral sites.
Tech heads to Stillwater on Sept. 22 to face Oklahoma State, which will be without quarterback Mason Rudolph. With both Tech and Oklahoma State having a wide open quarterback battle headed into 2018, that’s Tech’s biggest toss up. The week after, Tech heads up to Morgantown to face West Virginia on Sept. 28 to round out the month, but it is possible for the Red Raiders to exit September with at least a 4-1 record.
More from Texas Tech Football
- Texas Tech football: Red Raider fans need to know about these Mountaineers
- Texas Tech football: Red Raiders land first commit for class of 2025
- Texas Tech football: Why have the Red Raiders struggled on the road under McGuire?
- Texas Tech football: Why the Red Raiders can compete for a Big 12 title
- Texas Tech football: Plenty of questions remain as conference play arrives
Tech opens October with a bye on Oct. 6th, which is perfect timing, as the Red Raiders take on TCU in Fort Worth on Oct. 11. The following week on Oct. 20, Tech hosts Kansas, and goes back on the road to Ames to face Iowa State on Oct. 27. With another quarterback competition at ISU, plus the departure of seniors Joel Lanning and Allen Lazard, things could get interesting, but it is very possible for Tech to tack on two more wins in October.
Oklahoma heads to Lubbock on Nov. 3, followed by Texas on Nov. 10, to conclude Texas Tech’s home schedule for the season. Baker Mayfield is burning his final year of eligibility for the 2017 season, and OU could be in somewhat of a rebuild phase at some positions, so the Sooners could be primed for upsets in 2018. The Longhorns are definitely “not back” in Coach Tom Herman’s inaugural season, so the team as a whole could be a wildcard around that part of the schedule.
Texas Tech finishes the season on the road on Nov. 17 to face Kansas State, and then finishes the season against Baylor on Nov. 24 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. This marks the eighth consecutive season AT&T Stadium will play host to the rivalry.
According to the Texas Tech Football press release, “Dating back to Tech’s inaugural football season in 1925, this will be the first time in school history the Red Raiders have taken part in multiple neutral-site contests during the regular season. It will also be the first time the Red Raiders have opened a season with a neutral-site game.”
Next: Texas Tech Football: Halftime adjustments aren’t the problem
Additionally, Texas Tech plays just four true road games in 2018, marking the fewest true road games since 2009. With players growing into roles, a hopefully more mature offensive line, and a quarterback battle for the ages in Carter McLane and Jett Duffey, there’s a lot to be excited about for the 2018 season.