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Texas Tech football: Ranking the 2023 home games by difficulty

By Matthew Conner

Oct 9, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A general overview of Jones AT&T Stadium during the game against the Texas Christian Horned Frogs and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A general overview of Jones AT&T Stadium during the game against the Texas Christian Horned Frogs and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 19, 2019; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders celebrate a touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2019; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders celebrate a touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: TCU @ Texas Tech

Is anyone else tired of losing to TCU in Lubbock?  The Horned Frogs have won their last four trips to Jones Stadium dating back to 2015.  However, Tech might be favored to end that streak when TCU comes to town on November 2nd.

It is hard to know what to expect from Sonny Dykes’ team in his second year.  After reaching the National Championship Game last season, the Frogs will be replacing QB Max Duggan, WR Quentin Johnson, RB Kendre Miller, and DB Trevious Hodges-Tomlinson among others.

Also, they will be replacing offensive coordinator, Garrett Riley, who is now at Clemson in the same role.  What’s more, a defense that was just 95th nationally in points allowed is having to replace two starting defensive ends.

However, Dykes has landed some potentially massive transfers.  Former five-star recruit Trey Sanders, an Alabama transfer, will be asked to step up as a key running back option.  What’s more, another Alabama transfer, wide receiver JoJo Earle, is now a Frog but he has only caught 24 passes in two college seasons.

What will likely determine TCU’s success this year, though, will be the play of QB Chandler Morris.  Having played in no more than five games in any of his three NCAA seasons thus far, he won the starting job to open last year but was injured in week one and lost his spot to Duggan.

Morris is a true unknown as a QB.  He’s only thrown 108 passes in his career and has just four TD passes as well.  Thus, it would be better for Tech to face him early in the year as he is getting used to being a starter rather than in November when he should have found his stride.

Still, Morris has a lot to prove before anyone will count on TCU as a contender again this year.  The Frogs open the season ranked No. 17 in large part out of respect for what they did a season ago and as a tip of the cap to Dykes but an incredibly easy six-game stretch to open the year could help ease them into the season.

Speaking of Dykes, it will have to be somewhat emotional for him to return to Lubbock and coach against the program with which his father, Spike, made his name.  Hopefully, he won’t have a happy homecoming and the Red Raiders will figure out a way to end TCU’s ugly winning streak at Jones Stadium.

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