Tech will have a warm-up game
The purpose of a non-conference schedule is to allow teams an opportunity to work out the kinks before league play starts. But when it looked like all Power 5 teams were going to go to conference-only games, we thought Tech might not have that luxury in 2020.
Now, we know that the Red Raiders are in fact going to have a warm-up game. That’s especially helpful given that the first Big 12 opponent on this year’s schedule is currently set to be Iowa State, a team many are predicting will challenge for a spot in the conference title game.
Remember, the Red Raiders will be welcoming back several key players from injury. Most notable are QB Alan Bowman and right guard Jack Anderson. But also, Tech will see receivers Dalton Rigdon and Seth Collins also return form injuries that cost them multiple games last fall. Additionally, there is redshirt freshman Gilbert Ibeneme, a former 4-star DE who missed all of last year with an injury.
Then there are newcomers who will be asked to play key roles this fall. It will be fantastic for players like LBs Krishon Merriweather and Brandon Bouyer-Randle, safety Eric Gordon, and true freshman RB Tahj Brooks to get their feet wet with a non-conference game before having to jump into the fire of conference play.
A warm-up game will also benefit first-time starters. Most important will be the experience that the two new starting offensive tackles will get before facing a tough Cyclone defense.
We don’t yet know who the non-conference foe will be but we know it will not be a major conference team. Thus, Tech will likely play a team that is going to be more of a sacrificial lamb than a true challenge. Teams from other Power 5 leagues that are going to play a conference-only slate of games won’t have the opportunity to get their sea legs against a weaker opponent. But fortunately, the plus-one game should give Matt Wells and his team an opportunity to smooth out some of the early-season rough spots that ever team can expect.