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Texas Tech football: Why the new 2020 schedule is an upgrade

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver McLane Mannix #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs the ball past safety Wayne Jones III #4 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the first half of the college football game on November 23, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver McLane Mannix #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs the ball past safety Wayne Jones III #4 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the first half of the college football game on November 23, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech Red Raiders are led onto the field by defensive lineman Broderick Washington Jr #96 and Ty Morrow #57. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are led onto the field by defensive lineman Broderick Washington Jr #96 and Ty Morrow #57. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Tech will now open conference play at home

While Texas Tech’s Big 12 opener didn’t get any easier, at least it will now be played at home as the Red Raiders will host Texas on September 26th.  Previously, Wells was supposed to take his team to Iowa State in the year’s first conference game.

But given that Jones Stadium will be at around 25% capacity that day, if that, will playing in the Hub City be much of a factor?  Perhaps not as much as it normally would be but it still may make a difference.

After all, these are unprecedented times so being at home for the first conference game of the new pandemic normal must be considered a benefit.  Travel could be more unusual than ever for teams this year with all the safeguards in place and this will be the first road game for the Longhorns during this strange season.  It is conceivable that such a new challenge may make it more difficult on the road team to adjust.

This will be the first season since 2017 that the Red Raiders have opened Big 12 play at home.  Last year, Tech was drilled 52-17 by Oklahoma in Norman, and the year before, a 41-17 win over Oklahoma State in Stillwater kicked off league play.

Certainly, playing in stadiums that will be nearly empty neutralizes much of the home-field advantage.  But playing at home in the first conference game under these new and unusual circumstances has to count for something and it may be what helps Tech get off a nice start to league play.

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