Texas Tech gets bad news about regular season finale vs. West Virginia

Texas Tech football fans hoping for one final party at Jones AT&T Stadium got some disappointing news on Saturday night. That's because it was announced that the Red Raiders' regular season finale will kick off at the most unpopular time, 11 a.m. Central.

This is the first time this season that Texas Tech has had a home Big 12 game kick off in this dreaded window. What's more, it's only the second time all season that Tech has had an 11 a.m. Central kickoff.

Of course, if this game goes like the first 11 a.m. kickoff of the season, it will be a great day at Jones Stadium. Back on September 14, the Red Raiders hosted North Texas for an early kickoff in a game that ended up being a 66-21 victory for the home team.

Often, teams fear a slow start at home when games begin in the 11 a.m. Central window. However, against the Mean Green, Tech played its best first half of the season.

That day, the Red Raiders jumped out to a 52-7 halftime lead which included four Behren Morton touchdown passes and a pick-six by defensive back Bralyn Lux. That was encouraging to see given that the week prior, the team looked lifeless in a 37-16 loss at Washington State, a game that kicked off not at 11 a.m. but rather at 9 p.m. Central.

There is plenty for Tech to play for this weekend against the Mountaineers. Not only would a win give Tech eight victories on the season, the most for the program since 2009, but somehow, there remains a glimmer of hope that with a win, the Red Raiders could play in the Big 12 championship game (but for that to happen, a ton of games have to break the right way in the last weekend of the regular season).

Also, the Red Raiders will want to send their seniors out with one last home win. That group will include running back Tahj Brooks, offensive tackle Caleb Rogers, wide receiver Josh Kelly, and defensive back Bralyn Lux to name a few.

So though no one wanted an 11 a.m. kick and though there will be no light shows after touchdowns or drone shows at the end of the third quarter, Texas Tech fans need to show up for this early kick off on a holiday weekend. After all, it will be the last time we get to party at The Jones until next season.