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Texas Tech football: What we want to see from Red Raiders vs. Tarleton

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Defensive lineman Joseph Adedire #43 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs across the field before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 22, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Defensive lineman Joseph Adedire #43 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs across the field before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 22, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 12: Texas Tech cheerleaders carry flags across the end zone during the first half of the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Kansas Jayhawks at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 12: Texas Tech cheerleaders carry flags across the end zone during the first half of the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Kansas Jayhawks at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Unless you are the loved one of a third-stringer on an FBS program, there’s no way you can enjoy games between teams from the upper level of the sport and FCS teams.  It’s ridiculous that FBS vs. FCS matchups have become expected from almost every program in the nation as they are usually wastes of time for fans and provide nothing in the way of value other than getting to work some backups into game action.  However, the Texas Tech football team must treat today’s contest against FCS opponent Tarleton State with urgency.

After all, FCS teams have been known to pull off stunning upsets with more regularity in recent years.  If that happens to the Red Raiders tonight at home, it will be cause for tremendous alarm.

A win this week is imperative if Joey McGuire’s program wants to sustain the momentum that was created last year in an 8-5 campaign.  Should Tech fail to pick up the season’s first win tonight, the Red Raiders would have to go 8-2 the rest of the year just to match 2022’s win total. They would also have to go 6-3 in Big 12 play just to reach a bowl game.

Of course, the overwhelming majority of people expect a big win for McGuire and Co. in this game.  However, the nature of a game against an FCS team is that it is a no-win situation.

Everything Tech does well tonight will be met with something to the effect of “Yeah, but it was against Tarleton”.  Meanwhile, anything that doesn’t go according to plan will be scrutinized and fretted over with even more intensity than normal.

Still, this game is important because it is the final opportunity for Tech to work out the kinks before Big 12 play begins next week at West Virginia.  Also, this is the beginning of a four-game stretch that could reset this season’s trajectory.

Opening conference play against the WVU, Houston, and Baylor, Tech might be the favorite in all four games until Kansas State comes to Lubbock on October 14.  Running through the next month’s worth of games undefeated would help the Red Raiders right the ship after a 0-2 start and set up an opportunity for them to be relevant in the conference race in November.

That starts by taking care of business against Tarleton.  Though this game doesn’t appear intriguing on paper, it will be worth paying attention to because there are some things we need to see from Texas Tech in the final non-conference tuneup of the year.

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