Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: What we know at the season’s halfway mark

By Matthew Conner

Sep 10, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire before the game against the Houston Cougars at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire before the game against the Houston Cougars at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 24: Jerand Bradley #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs after a catching a pass during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 24: Jerand Bradley #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs after a catching a pass during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images) /

This team has plenty of fight in it

If you are of the belief that it is not about the size of the dog in the fight but rather, the size of the fight in the dog, you have to love this Texas Tech football team.  That’s because McGuire’s squad has already proven that it will bring the fight to any opponent.  That’s not something that previous Red Raider teams can say.

This year, Tech has yet to be blown out.  In fact, the Red Raiders have covered or been right at the spread in every game this year.

It’s a stark difference from previous seasons when Tech was blown out on a regular basis.  Remember that in 2021, Tech lost to Texas by 35 points and TCU by 21 in the first five games of the season.

This season, Tech has faced five top-25 opponents and has yet to be overmatched despite being the less talented team in most of those matchups.  In fact, Tech was a double-digit underdog to both NC State and Oklahoma State and in each instance, the Red Raiders refused to give in and were not embarrassed like so many previous Tech teams have been.  While that might seem like a loser’s consolation, it is a sign that McGuire and Co. are pointing things in the right direction.

Last year, Tech was blown out by at least 21 points on three occasions.  Taking it back to 2016, that number rises to 11 total games.  That’s nearly twice per season that Tech has simply failed to put up the type of fight that is required on a weekly basis in the Big 12.

Fortunately, this year has been different.  Tech has bought into what McGuire has been preaching since the day he took over and “the brand” that he wants to establish seems to be well on its way to coming to fruition.

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