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Texas Tech football: Takeaways from the 2021 football schedule

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 31: Jones AT&T Stadium is pictured before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners on October 31, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 31: Jones AT&T Stadium is pictured before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners on October 31, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – DECEMBER 05: Krishon Merriweather #1, Michael Nelson #39, Colin Schooler #17 and Christian LaValle #45 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders take the field before the college football game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Jones AT&T Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – DECEMBER 05: Krishon Merriweather #1, Michael Nelson #39, Colin Schooler #17 and Christian LaValle #45 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders take the field before the college football game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Jones AT&T Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Only one home game  vs Power 5 opponent in first six games

I’m a big believer in the idea that the first half of a season is crucial when it comes to fan engagement.  That’s because I’ve seen year after year the crowds at Jones Stadium start out strong only to dwindle as the season progresses and the Red Raiders fall out of contention.

That’s why I always like to see some marquee games at the Jones early in the year.  The theory being that those games will bring in a sizeable crowd and give Tech a chance to score a meaningful win to help win back some of the fans that may have become apathetic or cynical during this program’s decade-long slide into obscurity.

Unfortunately, this year’s schedule doesn’t provide any early marquee games.  In fact, Tech will face only one Power 5 program in Lubbock in the first half of the season, TCU on October 9th.

Part of this problem is Kirby Hocutt’s fault for not scheduling a Power 5 non-conference game in Lubbock.  It should be his priority to do so every odd-year to help bulk up a home schedule that doesn’t include Texas, OU, or Baylor.   But instead, he has decided to bring Stephen F. Austin and Florida International to Lubbock in the non-con this season in what is an almost insulting gesture to the season ticket holders.

But part of the reason that the first half of the schedule is so lack-luster is what we just discussed, the two Big 12 road games to open conference play.  Now, Tech will likely be 0-2 in league play and could be just 2-3 on the year (if they lose at Hoston to open the year) before the home fans get to see with their own eyes a game that carries any cache.

That’s not how you generate excitement.  Of course, if Tech can upset either Texas or WVU and manage a win over Houston, it could turn the TCU game into a rather raucous affair.

But no one is counting on Tech being 4-1 heading into that game, particularly because of the QB situation and there will likely be some early bumps in the road on the offensive side of the ball.  Thus, by the time that Tech fans finally get to see a Power 5 team come to The Jones, they may have already given up hope for a decent season.

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