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Texas Tech Football: Looking back at memorable season openers

By Matthew Conner

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 25: The Texas Tech Red Raiders flag flies outside the stadium before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys September 25, 2014 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Red Raiders 45-35. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 25: The Texas Tech Red Raiders flag flies outside the stadium before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys September 25, 2014 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Red Raiders 45-35. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(Photo by: Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

The 2018 Texas Tech football season opener is fast approaching so to prepare, lets take a look back at some of the most memorable season openers in program history.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the 2018 Texas Tech football schedule is the fact that for the first time since 2002, the Red Raiders open the season against an opponent from a Power 5 conference.

Facing Ole Miss in the opener is exciting for a fan base that has sat through week-one matchups in recent years against the likes of Eastern Washington, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State and Central Arkansas. 2018 presents the first time since Kingsbury’s first season (2013) that the first game of the season comes against an opponent with any hope of giving the Red Raiders a challenge.

But while taking on Ole Miss to start the season is exciting, this matchup comes at perhaps the worst possible time for Texas Tech.  This year, Kliff Kingsbury faces more question marks with his team than arguably any Red Raider coach has since Mike Leach in his first season in 2000.

As we know, Kingsbury will have to rely on a group of three quarterbacks that have made just one start between them.  Additionally, he has to find three new starting receivers to replace over 70% of last season’s production in the passing game.

If there was ever a year for the Red Raiders to begin the season with a glorified scrimmage against a hapless FCS team, 2018 would seem to be the perfect season.  But that is not what lies in store on September 1st in Houston.

So as we get prepared to start the season with a high-stakes showdown against an SEC opponent, lets take a look back at some of the more memorable season openers in program history.

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