Depth may not be as big of a concern
Over the course of a 12-game season, every program is going to have to overcome injuries. But unfortunately, Texas Tech has struggled to do so as well as most of its Big 12 competitors in recent years.
Therefore, a 10-game season may actually benefit a team that has some serious depth concerns.
All we have to do to understand Tech’s depth woes is look back at the last two seasons. At QB, the Red Raiders had to start McLane Carter for two games in 2018 and Jackson Tyner for one game in 2019. Neither of those players had any business starting for a Power 5 school but because of Tech’s lack of quality recruiting at the position in recent years, that was what transpired.
Then there was the 2019 running back situation. Starting the year with SaRodorick Thompson, Armand Shyne, and Ta’Zhawn Henry, Tech was down to just Thompson when TCU came to Lubbock in late November as the redshirt freshman had to play every snap of the game.
This year, Tech is expected to be deeper, especially on defense, thanks to emerging young players and the addition of key transfers and JUCO signees. And hopefully, a 10-game season will take far less of a toll on the roster’s overall depth because that has been Tech’s kryptonite over the last handful of seasons.