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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 /
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Texas Tech hosts Tarleton State in a non-conference football game, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Texas Tech hosts Tarleton State in a non-conference football game, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 at Jones AT&T Stadium. /

Texas Tech hasn’t played its best football yet

There is no doubt that Texas Tech has improved from week to week in 2023.  What we saw against Oregon was a step up from the slog that was the Wyoming game, for instance.

That’s why it is easy to believe that the Red Raiders’ best football is ahead of them.  After all, we saw last season that McGuire and his coaching staff have the capability of improving their team’s performance as the season progresses.

Remember that last fall, Tech began just 2-4 in Big 12 games.  However, a three-game winning streak to end the regular season pushed Tech to 5-4 in conference play, the first time since 2009 that the program finished over .500 in the Big 12.

During last fall’s season-ending winning streak, the Red Raiders saw improvement almost across the roster even when a star such as defensive end Tyree Wilson was lost for the year. However, if Tech wants to compete for the Big 12 this year, a slow start to conference play can’t be in the cards again.

Fortunately, Tech is playing three very winnable games to open league action this year.  West Virginia, Houston, and Baylor combine for a record of just 4-5 with WVU being the only one from that group over .500.

Though two of those first three league games are on the road, Tech should expect to win each.  Doing so would set up a crucial game with Kansas State in Lubbock on October 14, a game that could eliminate either Tech or the Wildcats from title contention.

Tech is going to have a chance to pick up momentum and figure out its winning formula against three of the worst teams in the conference right off the bat.  If the Red Raiders can put the pieces together over the next three weeks, then confidence should be high entering the back half of October which could mean that Tech might be playing its best football down the stretch for the second year in a row.

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