Texas Tech football: The benefits of a 10-game schedule

Now that it appears the Big 12 has settled on a 10-game schedule, let’s look at some of the benefits for the Texas Tech football team.

On Monday, the Big 12 officially adopted a 10-game football schedule for the 2020 season.  That means that every Power 5 conference will play two games fewer than originally scheduled due to the ongoing global pandemic.

But the Big 12 seemed far more reluctant to go this route than other leagues.  In fact, it was the last conference to give up hope of a 12-game season.

"“I would like to salute the work of our university presidents and chancellors, athletics directors, coaches, medical advisors and administrators who have worked tirelessly and collaboratively during these extraordinary times,” said Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.  “We believe this change provides the best opportunity going forward.  However, we will undoubtedly need to be flexible as we progress through the season in order to combat the challenges that lie ahead.”"

Perhaps the biggest news that came from this decision is the fact that the one non-conference game is required to be a home contest for each Big 12 team.  That is an attempt to control how much exposure conference teams have to the virus by keeping them from going to visit programs that do not follow the Big 12’s prescribed guidelines for safety.

It remains to be seen how Tech will manage that new mandate being as both of the non-conference opponents slated to come to Lubbock this season, Arizona and Alabama State, are playing in conferences that will either not allow their members to play outside of their conference (PAC 12) or have postponed the season altogether (SWAC).

We also can expect changes to the current schedule of conference games.  That’s because the Big 12’s official statement on the 10-game schedule gives no specific date as to when conference games will start.

"“The start of Conference play will be solidified in the coming weeks, with an anticipated start sometime between mid- to late-September, with the expectation that non-conference games are contested prior to beginning league games,” the statement says."

Also, the league is reserving the right to move the Big 12 Championship game back to December 12th or 19th.  That probably won’t matter to Texas Tech football fans.  (Sorry…but it’s true.)

It is nice to finally have some clarity about what this season will hold even though this news doesn’t exactly lay out what is in store for the Big 12 this fall.  But it gives us the framework for a season and it allows us an opportunity to examine just how a 10-game season might benefit the Red Raiders.