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Five Swing Games For Texas Tech In 2018

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 4: Tre King #24 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders finds running room and will score a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 4, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 4: Tre King #24 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders finds running room and will score a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 4, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 05: Da’Leon Ward
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 05: Da’Leon Ward /

Week 10 – Texas

There’s nothing fans in Lubbock enjoy more than seeing Texas Tech beat Texas.  Whether it be in football, basketball or team duck racing, beating the Longhorns brings more joy to Red Raider fans than almost anything else.

Unfortunately, Texas Tech football fans have not had the opportunity to witness a win over Texas at Jones Stadium since 2008.  What’s most frustrating about that streak is that the last four UT teams to come to Lubbock have been mediocre at best.

In 2018, there’s no telling what type of team the Longhorns will be when they come to town in week-ten.  In Tom Herman’s second year, expectations are high with many expecting the Horns to be the primary challenger to OU for the Big 12 title, but that likely doesn’t mean much.

Virtually every summer, expectations and predictions for Texas are higher than what actually transpires in the fall.  Could that be the case again in 2018?

Texas has NFL talent on its roster, but that is nothing new.  Wide receiver Colin Johnson is a likely high draft pick in 2019 but the Horns are sill trying to figure out how to improve what was arguably the worst offensive line in the Big 12 in 2017.

QB Sam Ehlinger is serviceable but was prone to turnovers are inconsistency last year.  He is far from being the type of QB that the UT faithful expect but he had strong performances against some elite teams like U.S.C. and OU. Can he put together a full season and finally end the Longhorn’s QB drought?

In year two of the new coaching staff, improvements are likely.  How big the gains?  Only time will tell.

This is a game that Texas Tech certainly can and should win.  And considering that it comes one week after OU comes to Lubbock, this game could be critical.

If Tech enters the UT game with just four wins, this win could be crucial in the quest for bowl eligibility as it is the final home game of the year.  And if Tech enters the game ahead of schedule with five or more wins, this game could vault the team towards the top half of the league and set the Red Raiders up for a nice postseason bowl.

Plus, beating Texas pays dividends off the field.  Whether it be on the recruiting trail or in massaging donations out of high-level boosters, having a win over Texas as a selling point does wonders for the Texas Tech football program.

It is time for Texas Tech to finally defend the Jones when Texas comes to town. Doing so would be a huge boost to the 2018 season and perhaps beyond.

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