Texas Tech football: Receivers, o-line, Donovan Smith stand out against Murray St.

Thankfully, week one of the Texas Tech football season played out like a game between a Power 5 program and an FCS program should.  The Red Raiders were never threatened and they got plenty of players some work in a live game situation en route to a 63-10 victory.

For as long as the starters were in the game, it was a crisp and surgical performance by Joey McGuire’s team, especially on offense.  Under new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, Tech amassed 605 yards of total offense, including 472 through the air.  What’s more, three different Red Raiders, Tyler Shough, Donovan Smith, and Behren Morton threw a touchdown pass.

Overall, the 53-point win was the largest for any Texas Tech head coach in his debut.  Likewise, the 63 points McGuire’s team put up was the most any Tech head coach has ever seen his team amass in his first game in charge.

Of course, assessing just how good this year’s team is can’t be done until a better opponent shows up on the opposing sidelines.  So everything we saw on Saturday night has to be taken with a grain of salt.

Still, there was a Power 5 team that looked rather suspect when facing an FCS opponent in week one, the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Providing a stark reminder that major conference teams can be pushed to the brink, or even beaten, by FCS teams,  Iowa had to hang on to beat South Dakota State 7-3 in Iowa City.  What’s more, the Hawkeyes didn’t find the endzone on the day.  Instead, they kicked a field goal and registered two safeties to get their seven points.

Now, after the last two seasons, Tech fans shouldn’t need to be reminded that a game against an FCS opponent can go awry.  Winning their last two FCS matchups by an average of just four points, the Red Raiders have had their own close calls against teams from the lower level of the sport.

Fortunately, this year’s FCS game was what it was meant to be; a glorified scrimmage.  Regardless, it is all we have to go on thus far as we assess the 2022 team.  So let’s take a look at four position groups that stood out against the Racers.