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.