Three toss-up home games Texas Tech football needs to win to have a big 2024

Texas Tech vs. Colorado: November 9

The second-to-last home game of the year could be a critical contest for the Red Raiders, especially if they are near the top of the Big 12 race when it arrives. On November 9, Deion Sanders and his Colorado Buffaloes will come to the South Plains in what will be the most anticipated home game of the season.

Like Baylor, Colorado had a massively disappointing 2023 season. Going just 4-8 overall and 1-7 in PAC 12 play, "Coach Prime" and his squad caught plenty of grief from fans and analysts across the nation after all of the offseason bravado that emanated from Boulder.

This year, Colorado could be a dangerous squad in their return to the Big 12. After all, they will have star QB Shedeur Sanders to run the offense again after he threw for 3,230 yards and 27 TDs last season. What's more, they will feature elite defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter, a likely top-10 NFL Draft pick in 2025.

To overhaul the roster and try to be a resurrection story in 2024, Sanders has brought in 40 transfers via the portal. That includes nine offensive linemen as the Buffs try to fix what was their greatest flaw last fall.

No one knows if this flood of portal additions will pay off but if it does, Colorado could be a surprise contender in the conference given the star power featured at the top of its roster. That's why the Buffaloes' visit to Lubbock late in the season could be an intriguing showdown between teams that might enter the season as dark horse conference title contenders.