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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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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 14: Tight end Drake Dabney #83 of the Baylor Bears is tackled by defensive back Dadrion Taylor-Demerson #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the college football game at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 14: Tight end Drake Dabney #83 of the Baylor Bears is tackled by defensive back Dadrion Taylor-Demerson #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the college football game at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

@ Baylor

It could be an intriguing end to the regular season when Tech heads to Waco to face Baylor.  After all, in the last two seasons, these teams have gone 1-1 against one another with the average margin being just two points.

This year, Baylor will be in the second year of the Dave Aranda era after an ugly 2020 that saw them go just 2-7.  Will 2020 be any better?  It all depends on a new starting QB.

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With 2020 starter Charlie Brewer (the QB who was on the receiving end of Colin Schooler’s massive hit at the goal line in Tech’s victory over the Bears a year ago) now having transferred to Utah, the Bears will either have junior Gerry Bohanon or sophomore Jacob Zeno calling the signals.  Can either prove to be the answer the Bears need?

Outside of QB, Baylor has plenty of weapons at WR and RB which should make life easier for whichever QB wins the job.  But it is the other side of the football that is supposed to be Aranda’s specialty.

Returning almost their entire two-deep on that side of the ball, Baylor will be yet another Big 12 team that enters the season believing that its defense can make significant strides this year.  And that’s what Aranda, the former defensive coordinator at LSU, is expected to hang his hat on.

Many people believe Tech is a six or seven-win team this season and if it’s the latter, there’s a chance that Tech could enter this game needing a win to get to bowl eligibility.  If that’s indeed the case, this could be a game that decides the fate of Matt Wells in Lubbock.

Coming two days after Thanksgiving, this game could be an intriguing cap on the holiday weekend given how close the last two contests in this rivalry have been.  But more importantly, it could put a cap on a season that absolutely must be a success for the Red Raiders.

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