There is no question that the bar has been raised for the Texas Tech football team. A 12-2 season in 2025 that icluded a Big 12 title and a playoff birth has changed expectations around Raiderland.
So when the 2026 team began the year with an uninspiring 23-point win over FCS opponent Abilene Christian, the fans were quick to voice their displeasure. That's understandable given Tech's No. 12 national ranking and the preseason belief that this version of the Red Raiders should be a playoff team once again.
However, fans must remember that one so-so performance against an overmatched opponent does not mean the preseason hype was unwarranted. After all, teams are allowed to improve, especially early in the fall.
We learned that lesson during one of the greatest seasons in program history, 2008. That year, Tech also opened the season at No. 12 nationally and hosted a team from the lower level of the sport (it was called Division I-AA back then, not the FCS) to open the season.
Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree, and the rest of the Red Raiders played with their food that night in a 49-24 win over Eastern Washington that left many of the South Plains faithful concerned that their team was overrated.
In that game, Tech led just 28-17 at the half and 35-24 entering the fourth quarter before tacking on two late TDs to stretch the margin of victory. However, people were just as displeased after that season opener as they are following Saturday night's win over ACU.
What's more, the next week, the 2008 team then went on the road to play a mid-major team out west, just as this year's Red Raiders will do against Oregon State in week two. Against Nevada, the Red Raiders again were far from dominant in a 35-19 win to move to 2-0.
After that, though, Tech would find its footing and look more like the team everyone expected. Eventually, the Red Raiders climbed to No. 2 in the national polls after a 10-0 start, and everyone forgot about the slow start to the season.
Perhaps the same type of trajectory is in store for this year's team. That would be just fine with everyone in Lubbock.
So Texas Tech fans should take a deep breath and understand that the start to any season is tricky. What's more, we must acknowledge that there were more bright spots than concerns that emerged from the week-one win. With that in mind, let's drink from a half-full glass of today and look at some of the positives that emerged from the season opener.
Texas Tech gave up next to nothing on the ground
The real strength of the 2025 Red Raider defense was its ability to stop the run. Last season, Tech gave up the fewest yards per game in the nation on the ground, just 68.1.
But with defensive stalwarts like linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and defensive tackles Lee Hunter and Skyler Gill-Howard now in the NFL, the Red Raiders must prove that this new defense can repeat that type of dominance. Saturday, Tech got off to a great start in that regard.
ACU managed just 75 rushing yards on 29 attempts. That's just 2.6 per rush.
What's more, 17 of those yards came on a QB scramble by the Wildcats' quarterback. Therefore, the standard ACU rushing game was essentially shut down.
Sure, former Boston College RB Alex Broome got loose a few times late in the game as he racked up 52 yards on 10 carries. However, Tech was rotating its defensive line heavily at that point, and the defense was also playing to stop the pass in the second half, believing that ACU would throw the ball to try to get back in the game.
In all, the rush defense was solid again, as it should have been against an FCS team. That's a good sign that this defense can be stingy around opposing ground attacks once again this year despite losing key starters in the offseason.
Texas Tech had a new defender step up in a big way
The star of the night for the defense came from out of nowhere. Helping fill in for injured pass rusher Trey White, Kent State transfer Jamond Mathis was Tech's best defensive player with a team-high six tackles.
What's more, the St. Louis, Missouri native led the team with 2.5 sacks. That is exactly what a player should do when he gets an opportunity to shine.
Go to work @MathisJamond 😤
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) September 6, 2026
📺: FS1 | @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/FtY7pSnUvX
The addition of Mathis flew under the radar for most fans. Since he arrived from Kent State, one of the worst football programs in America, few were excited to see what he could bring to the table.
Perhaps now, though, we should adjust our expectations. The 6-foot-1, 250-pound senior proved that he possesses some pass rush skills and a quick first step, a sign that maybe he was a diamond-in-the-rough addition for this defense.
Texas Tech cut down on the pre-snap penalties
Along with the offense's red-zone issues, another problem from a year ago that fans should keep an eye on this fall is pre-snap penalties. Last season, those mistakes were a huge problem for Tech and one of the reasons for the red-zone woes.
On Saturday, Tech had only one penalty assessed that would fall into the pre-snap or mental mistake category. That came in the first half when the Red Raiders had 12 men on the field on an ACU punt, giving the Wildcats a new set of downs.
What's more, on that same play, Tech jumped offsides. However, that penalty was declined. Having a mix-up on special teams that results in a first down is a bad look, but it is also understandable in the first game. That is easy to correct moving forward.
It was refreshing to see no false start penalties from the offense, especially the offensive line. Those types of procedural penalties, along with illegal formation infractions, are common in season openers as teams work out the kinks. So it was great to see Tech have a rather disciplined night when it came to limiting pre-snap mental mistakes.
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