Texas Tech football: Could UT game follow a familiar winning script this year?

The 2015 and 2023 Texas Tech seasons are very similar

When we look at 2015 and 2023, there are plenty of similarities between the two seasons from a Texas Tech perspective.  In fact, both saw Tech enter the regular-season finale in Austin with a 6-5 record.

Even more, the week prior to playing Texas, both Texas Tech teams secured bowl eligibility with a home win.  While this year’s team did so with a 24-23 win over UCF, the 2015 team got its sixth win with a 59-44 triumph over Kansas State, the last time the Red Raiders beat the Wildcats.

Going into a season finale already assured of bowl eligibility is a huge advantage because it naturally takes all of the pressure off of a team.  That’s especially important for Texas Tech when it’s set to take on the Horns because it means that the Red Raiders can play loose and even take some chances that it might not normally take.

That day, Tech did take some risks with the game plan.  Most notable was the trick play that sealed the win.

Running a play where Pat Mahomes snuck the ball to a crouching Jakeem Grant before rolling out to the right, Tech drew the defense’s attention to the wide side of the field allowing Grant to scurry around the left end for a TD run.  It was the signature play in what was a wild game on a rainy night and it was one that a team tries only when there is nothing to lose.

Looking back at the 2015 season, it is easy to see the similarities between that year and what has happened for Tech this fall.  Essentially, each season was a roller coaster ride.

In 2015, Tech began 3-0 before dropping two games to top-5 teams in TCU and Baylor.  Then two wins over Iowa State and Kansas (arguably the two worst teams in the Big 12) were followed by a three-game losing streak.  However, the season ended with a pair of wins to get Tech to 7-5.

This year, Tech began 1-3 with its only win being against FCS-weakling, Tarleton State.  Then, wins over two of the worst teams in the Big 12, Houston and Baylor, got Tech back to .500.

However, losses to K-State and BYU put the Red Raiders in a hole at 3-5 going into the open week.  Just like in 2015, though, Tech has finished strong this year with three straight wins in November to get to bowl eligibility.  Now, we all hope that this season ends the way 2015 did with a Red Raider win in Austin.