The weekend is almost here, which menas that Texas Tech football fans are gearing up for another important Big 12 matchup. Coming off of an open week after a win over Colorado moved them to 2-0 in league play, the Red Raiders now try to topple Arizona State in Lubbock Saturday afternoon.
At first glance, fans may believe that Tech will have little trouble dispatching the Sun Devils. After all, ASU has been unimpressive in 2026.
Though they are 3-2 overall, they have yet to secure a convincing win over a Power-4 team. In fact, they are just 1-2 against teams from one of the four major conferences. What's more, their lone win in such matchups was just a 7-point victory over a poor Kansas team.
Still, there is reason to believe that Arizona State could be a tough opponent on Saturday. That's due in large part to ASU's dynamic duo at the wide receiver position.
Texas Tech will have its biggest defensive flaw tested by ASU
This season, the Red Raiders are statistically one of the worst teams in America against the pass. Giving up 262.2 yards per game through the air, Tech ranks 124th out of 138 teams in the FBS.
That should have Arizona State licking its chops. The Sun Devils rank 34th nationally at 272.8 yards passing per contest.
Most of that air power comes via two wide receivers, Reed Harris and Omarion Miller. That tandem could give the Red Raider secondary fits.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Harris leads all Big 12 players with 590 receiving yards in 2026. What's more, he averages an impressive 17.4 yards per reception.
In five games this year, he has been held below 90 yards just once. On top of that, he's gone for 125 or more three times. That includes a 9-catch, 189-yard, two-touchdown performance at Texas A&M in week two.
With seven TD grabs on the year, Harris is a dangerous player for opposing defenses. Arizona State will feature him in their attack, as he's caught six balls or more in four games in 2026.
Opposite him will be Miller, a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder. The transfer from Colorado has hauled in 31 passes for 312 yards and two TDs so far.
That means that Arizona State has two players who would lead the Red Raiders in receiving yards. In fact, no Red Raider currently has over 300 yards on the season.
Of course, Tech fans know that their team's secondary has been suspect this year. In five games, four opposing receivers have had at least 90 yards receiving against the Red Raiders.
What's more, Arizona State's duo of Harris and Miller will be the best one-two punch Tech has had to contend with. Thus, it will be imperative for corners like Bryce Pollock and Davin Martin to be at their best. Additionally, the safeties will be challenged by ASU.
Last season, when Arizona State upset Tech in Tempe, the game plan was to try to isolate the Red Raider safeties on a receiver and challenge them deep. That tactic worked as ASU completed passes of 49, 45, and 39 yards while also drawing two pass interference penalties.
Tech safety Brenden Jordan was picked on quite a bit in that game, and he turned in a performance he'd probably rather forget. Though the faces have changed on the ASU offense in 2026, the strategy likely hasn't.
So expect Jordan and the rest of the secondary to be under fire early and often this week. If Tech isn't up to the challenge in the defensive backfield, this game could be much more uncomfortable than many Red Raiders are expecting.
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