Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: Why the Red Raiders can compete for a Big 12 title

By Matthew Conner

Sep 16, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Jordan Brown (4) makes a touchdown catch in front of Tarleton State Texans defensive safety Dabari Hawkins (5) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Jordan Brown (4) makes a touchdown catch in front of Tarleton State Texans defensive safety Dabari Hawkins (5) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Sep 16, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) runs the ball against Kansas State Wildcats linebacker Desmond Purnell (32) and safety Marques Sigle (21) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) runs the ball against Kansas State Wildcats linebacker Desmond Purnell (32) and safety Marques Sigle (21) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas Tech can make a run because the Big 12 conference isn’t very strong this year

Many around the country have been quick to point out the irony in the fact that the Big 12 only has two ranked teams after three weeks (Texas and OU) while the conference it raided this offseason, the PAC-12, has eight teams in the top 25.

Of course, conference realignment is more about television viewership numbers and boardroom negotiations than success on the football field for one individual season.  However, the fact that the Big 12 is almost entirely absent from the polls is a sign that the journey through the conference schedule this year is not as daunting as it might be in other years.

Kansas State and TCU, two teams that opened the year in the polls, each dropped their one non-conference Power 5 test making both appear beatable.  Still, there are currently three undefeated teams that Tech is set to eventually meet (BYU, Kansas, and UCF).  However, none of those teams are ranked even after 3-0 starts.

Tech doesn’t have to run through a murderer’s row of teams to have a strong conference record this year.  In fact, until the team goes to Austin in the regular-season finale on Thanksgiving weekend, the Red Raiders will not be a significant underdog in any game and will likely be favored in more than half of their league contests.

While running through the schedule until the Texas game will be tough, Tech has a chance to do just that given how mediocre the league is in 2023.  This year, some under-the-radar team is likely going to run off a winning streak to push toward the top of the league standings come November.

Tech has to be a realistic contender to be that team given how solid the roster is.  After all, isn’t it about time that the Red Raiders finally become the team that catches lightning in a bottle for once?

Home/Texas Tech Football