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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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Nov 3, 2018; Lubbock, TX, USA; A general overview of Jones AT&T Stadium during the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2018; Lubbock, TX, USA; A general overview of Jones AT&T Stadium during the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: Kansas State @ Texas Tech

Another team that has befuddled the Red Raiders, both in Lubbock and in Manhattan, Kansas, in recent years is Kanas State.  The Wildcats will bring a seven-game winning streak in this series to the South Plains this year on October 14th in a game that will have massive Big 12 implications.

Kansas State has been tabbed the No. 2 team in the preseason Big 12 poll and for good reason.  Though they will not have spectacular RB Deuce Vaughn or first-round NFL Draft pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, they will remain one of the best teams in the conference.

Will Howard is back to be QB1 after taking over that job in the middle of last season and guiding the Cats to the Big 12 Championship.  Though he is not dynamic, he is as solid as can be and last year, he put up 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns in just seven games.

Protecting him will be a line that returns all five starters.  That includes potential All-American guard Cooper Beebe, the latest in a long line of maulers to block for the Wildcats.

On defense, tackling machine Daniel Green returns to patrol the middle of the defense.  Last year, he had only 58 tackles due to nagging injuries but the year prior, he registered 89, including 16 for loss.

Coaching the Wildcats is the underrated Chris Klieman, who is an interesting coach for Tech fans to watch.  Hired the same offseason that the Red Raiders made the mistake of hiring Matt Wells, his success is a reminder to everyone in scarlet and black of where our program could be had Kirby Hocutt and Co. made a better hire in 2018.

Klieman has gone 30-20 at KSU in four seasons with only one losing campaign.  Of course, he also has the most recent conference title on his resume and it should surprise no one if he gets his team back to Arlington this year.  Thus, if Tech wants to get to KSU’s level of success, this tough home game is one that needs to go the way of the good guys.

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