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Texas Tech football: Important storylines ahead of UT game

By Matthew Conner

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 29: Brennan Eagles #13 of the Texas Longhorns gives a stiff arm to Adam Beck #24 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders after a reception in the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 29: Brennan Eagles #13 of the Texas Longhorns gives a stiff arm to Adam Beck #24 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders after a reception in the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Kicker Trey Wolff #36 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders kicks off during the first half of the college football game against the Houston Baptist Huskies on September 12, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Kicker Trey Wolff #36 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders kicks off during the first half of the college football game against the Houston Baptist Huskies on September 12, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

As the Texas Tech football team continues preparation for this weekend’s game against Texas, here are five storylines to monitor.

We are three days away from the annual showdown between the Red Raiders and the Longhorns.  All-time, these teams have met 69 times with Tech claiming only 17 of those games.

The teams first met in 1928, three years after Tech started playing football.  But it wasn’t until 1955, the eighth edition of the series that the Red Raiders would finally take down the Longhorns for the first time.

But that first win was especially memorable.  That’s because it was the first-ever night game played at Memorial Stadium in Austin.  That evening, the Red Raiders spoiled the UT party with an improbable 20-14 victory.

Unfortunately, it would be eight more meetings until the Red Raiders would secure victory No. 2 over UT.  That came in 1967, the first of back-to-back Tech wins in the series.

Speaking of winning streaks in this series, they’ve been rare for the boys from Lubbock.  On only four occasions have the Red Raiders won consecutive games against Texas.  What’s more, they’ve never had a three-game winning streak against the flagship football program in the state.  Currently, Texas is riding a two-game winning streak over Tech with the Red Raiders not having beaten UT in Lubbock since 2008.

While Tech hasn’t beaten the Horns at Jones Stadium in 12 years, they also haven’t beaten a top-10 team in eight years.  The last time the good guys took down a top 10 team was in 2012 when No. 4 West Virginia was humiliated in Lubbock 49-14.  That could change this weekend as the Horns enter this showdown ranked No. 8 in the nation.

Another streak that Tech would like to end this year is a three-game losing streak in Big 12 openers when the opponent is Texas.  In fact, Tech has never beaten the Horns in the first game of Big 12 play.

But on a positive note, the Red Raiders do have a winning record in their Big 12 openers.  Overall, the Red Raiders are 14-10 in the first game of Big 12 play.

As is always the case, storylines abound ahead of this annual meeting between these programs.  It is the most anticipated game on the yearly schedule and nothing draws the ire and brings out the passion of the Red Raider fan base more than the appearance of burnt orange on the South Plains.

So with at being said, let’s take a look at some of the top storylines surrounding the Red Raiders as they prepare for Saturday’s game.  And we will begin with some excellent news.

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