I don’t think I can say enough about just how impressive it is what Shiel Wood is doing with the Texas Tech defense this season. Time and time again throughout the first nine weeks of this college football season, we have seen the Red Raiders absolutely dominate on the defensive side of the ball.
And it’s not like the Texas Tech football program is known for fielding even remotely competent defenses. Right now, Texas Tech has one of the Big 12’s absolute best defenses and it’s translating to one of the most impressive defenses in the country.
And this comes as Texas Tech had one of the absolute worst defenses in the Big 12 (and the country) last season. While it’s been great to see the offensive success with Mack Leftwich moving out West from San Marcos to Lubbock, it’s been so incredibly refreshing to see what Wood has been able to accomplish on the defensive side of things.
Entering Week 10, Texas Tech’s defense is still the best in the Big 12 in scoring defense.
Ahead of Texas Tech’s trip to face the Kansas State Wildcats, the Red Raiders have the Big 12’s best scoring defense
- Texas Tech Red Raiders - 12.4 points per game
- Utah Utes - 14.3 points per game
- BYU Cougars - 17 points per game
- UCF Knights - 17.1 points per game
- Houston Cougars - 18.6 points per game
- Cincinnati Bearcats - 19 points per game
- ARizona Wildcats - 20.3 points per game
- Iowa State Cyclones - 21.8 points per game
- Arizona State Sun Devils - 24.3 points per game
- TCU Horned Frogs - 25.1 points per game
- Kansas State Wildcats - 25.8 points per game
- Kansas Jayhawks - 25.9 points per game
- Colorado Buffaloes - 27.4 points per game
- West Virginia Mountaineers - 29.9 points per game
- Baylor Bears - 32.6 points per game
- Oklahoma State Cowboys - 38.9 points per game
With Texas Tech on top of this stat and the scoring offense stat, it’s pretty obvious as to why the Red Raiders are one of the best teams in the Big 12. And it translates to some of the other top teams in the conference as well. Utah is No. 2 here and No. 2 in scoring offense. BYU is No. 3 here and No. 4 in scoring offense. Cincinnati is No. 6 here and No. 3 in scoring offense.
And then there’s teams like Baylor. The Bears are No. 6 in scoring offense (which is really good in this conference!) and then No. 15 here. And that’s a big reason as to why they’re sitting at 4-4 overall and Dave Aranda (a brilliant defensive mind!) is on the hot seat. Texas Tech fans can certainly be empathetic with that sort of situation.