There are no more passionate fans than college football fans. What's more, the segment of that fandom who plays the video game, EA Sports College Football, is almost equally as invested in the video game as they are in the actual sport itself. Now, Texas Tech football fans are buzzing because of a positive change to the 2026 version of the video game.
According to the video game's official trailer, which was recently shared on X, this year's edition will feature the beloved Masked Rider leading the Red Raiders onto the field before each home game. That is something that has long been missing from previous versions of the game.
While that might not seem like a huge deal to many, for others, it was a sign of disrespect. After all, for years, the game has featured the pregame traditions of other schools, those that are more prominent in the sport.
Thus, when the video game creators simply decided to leave Texas Tech's most popular and famous symbol out of their game, Red Raider fans took that as yet another slight from a national college football entity. Fortunately, that omission has been rectified.
The Masked Rider is in the game 🔥🎮 https://t.co/G8JqEIGJe2 pic.twitter.com/Z666EQTISq
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) May 29, 2025
The Masked Rider is Texas Tech's longest-enduring tradition. In 1936, as part of a dare, unknown horsemen who concealed their identity circled the Texas Tech football field during a game. They became known as "ghost riders" because they would circle the field at home games and then disappear into the West Texas wind.
Then, in 1954, the Masked Rider tradition as we have come to know it began in earnest. That year, Joe Kirk Fulton led the team out onto the field at the Gator Bowl wearing Levi's, a red shirt, and a black cape while riding atop a black horse. It was one of the first instances of a live animal leading a college football team onto the field, and it wowed the fans in attendance and those watching on television.
In all, there have been 64 Masked Riders in Texas Tech history, including the 2025-26 Masked Rider, Rose Rosas. The Brady, Texas, native is a junior animal science major.
Rosas will be the latest Texas Tech Masked Rider to thrill fans around Raiderland by leading the football team into battle for each home game. What's more, Texas Tech fans who play the EA Sports College Football game will get to enjoy seeing one of the best entrances in the nation portrayed correctly. The game is available with early access beginning on July 7, and when gamers get their hands on it, they will finally see Texas Tech's biggest icon in it.