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Texas Tech football: Toss-up games that will be pivotal in 2021

By Matthew Conner

Nov 3, 2018; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders Masked Rider enters the field before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2018; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders Masked Rider enters the field before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2020; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Christian Holmes (0) tries to bring down Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Erik Ezukanma (13) during a football game at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Terry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2020; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Christian Holmes (0) tries to bring down Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Erik Ezukanma (13) during a football game at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Terry-USA TODAY Sports /

vs. Oklahoma State

Over the past month, as conference realignment chaos has taken over the college football conversation, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech have become surprise partners who have been rumored to have their fates linked together as the deck reshuffles.  But one place where the Cowboys and Red Raiders are not linked is in expectations for 2021.

While Tech was picked to finish 9th in the conference preseason poll, OSU was ranked fourth.  And many believe that OSU could be a darkhorse contender for a spot in the conference title game.

The athletic Spencer Sanders is back for his third year as the Cowboys’ starting QB.  But he’s been a rather up-and-down commodity thus far in his career.  At times, he can be electric with both his arm and his feet but far too often he’s been a turnover machine as was the case in 2019’s edition of this series.  That day, he gave the ball away five times (three interceptions) in a Red Raider upset victory.  If he cuts down on his propensity for giving the ball away, this year’s OSU offense will once again be one of the best in the Big 12.

But keep in mind that Sanders’ two best weapons from a year ago, RB Chuba Hubbard and WR Tylan Wallace, are now in the NFL.  Thus, Sanders might feel even more pressure to do it all and that could bring about even more mistakes.

Interestingly though, it is on defense where OSU figures to be at its best.  Returning eight starters from a unit that was fourth in the Big 12 in points allowed and third in the conference in passing yards surrendered, the Cowboys expect to have one of the best defenses in the league this year.

As usual, OSU is far more highly regarded by the pundits than Tech is entering 2021.  But that’s been the case for the last several years and it hasn’t stopped the two teams from playing incredibly close games.

Since 2016, these two programs have played four games decided by ten points or less.  That could be the case again in 2021 and if Tech can pull out a close win, it would be a tremendous feather in Matt Wells’ cap given what most people think of the Cowboys heading into this season.

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