Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: Storylines to monitor in the season opener

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders calls signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders calls signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Henry Colombi #3 of the Utah State Aggies avoids a diving tackle attempt by Donovan Dalton #29 of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during the third quarter at Aloha Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Henry Colombi #3 of the Utah State Aggies avoids a diving tackle attempt by Donovan Dalton #29 of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during the third quarter at Aloha Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

Which backup QB will emerge?

Given Bowman’s injury history, having a reliable No. 2 QB will be essential.  When you combine that with the ever-present threat of COVID-19, it seems even more likely that one of the backups will be called upon at some point this year.

The problem right now is that Matt Wells has indicated that neither of the candidates for that No. 2 job, redshirt freshman Maverick McIvor or Utah State junior grad transfer Henry Colombi, have done enough in fall camp to claim that spot.  In fact, Wells essentially said that this weekend’s game will be a continuation of the competition between the two.

We don’t always look forward to the moment in games against FCS teams when the starters are pulled and the second and third-teamers get some action.  That’s when the games become sloppy and tough to watch.

But this QB battle should add some intrigue to that point in the game (assuming of course that Tech can blow out HBU as expected).  In fact, it wouldn’t be a shock to see both backups play with the first-team o-line and receivers in order for them to have the best opportunity to show out.  That will make mop-up time more interesting than in years past.

The fact is that in each of the last three years, Tech has had its backup QB start at least one game.  And in both 2018 and 2019, the Red Raiders had three different QBs start a contest.

Thus, the backup job is no longer an afterthought in the Hub City.  This is a position of critical importance and one that needs to be manned effectively.  So when Bowman’s work is finished, don’t tune out because the real intrigue may just be starting to unfold.

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