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Texas Tech football: Three swing games on the 2020 schedule

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Jones AT&T Stadium is pictured before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the UTEP Miners on September 07, 2019 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Jones AT&T Stadium is pictured before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the UTEP Miners on September 07, 2019 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders stands on the field during the alma mater. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders stands on the field during the alma mater. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

With the new 2020 schedule now released, let’s take a look at the three swing games that could determine how the season plays out for the Texas Tech football team.

Now that we have a 10-game 2020 schedule for the Texas Tech football team, we can start to look forward to what this fall might hold in store.  But before we do, we still have to understand how many great games we lost throughout the Big 12 because of the chaos that is defining the college football season.

Of course, Red Raider fans are rather disappointed by the fact that this year’s scheduled game with Arizona will not take place.  With the Wildcats no longer coming to Lubbock thanks to the PAC 12’s decision to cancel all games this fall, it not only means that Tech won’t have an opportunity to avenge last year’s 28-14 loss in Tempe but it also means the Lubbock fans won’t see a Power 5 non-conference game at The Jones until 2023 when Oregon pays a visit.

But around the Big 12, other exciting non-conference games have also been lost.  Perhaps the most marquee was the showdown between Texas and defending National Champ LSU in Baton Rogue.  After last year’s classic 45-38 Tiger win in Austin, the rematch was certain to be a can’t miss affair.

Another game that is almost always worth the time is Iowa State and Iowa.  Those two rivals have met every year since 1977 and 67 times overall.  But this year, the Cy-Hawk trophy will have to remain in Iowa City for an extra year.

Oklahoma was supposed to host Tennessee in a game that was set to feature two of the proudest programs in the nation. Of course, given at OU is No. 4 in the preseason polls and the Volunteers are unranked, that contest might have been a blowout.

Another rivalry game that was set to be played this year was Maryland and West Virginia.  There is no love lost between the two schools located just 210 miles apart but that geographic rivalry won’t take place this season.

What’s more, the Mountaineers were also set to open the year on September 5th against Florida State in Atlanta.  That would have been an opportunity for the Big 12 to score an important non-conference win but given how poor Neal Brown’s team is expected to be this year, that would have been a long shot.

Meanwhile, TCU and Oklahoma State were set to face PAC 12 teams like Tech was.  The Frogs were supposed to take on Cal in Berkley and the Cowboys were going to welcome Oregon State to Stillwater.

But while we will lament the loss of those games, let’s take a look at what we do get to enjoy this fall in Big 12 play.  Specifically, le’ts spend some time analyzing the three contests that could be swing games for Texas Tech this year.

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