Today, Texas Tech looks to remain undefeated in 2026 by taking down Arizona State and moving to 3-0 in Big 12 action. Of course, it is also a chance for the Red Raiders to avenge their only Big 12 loss from 2025.
This will be just the sixth all-time meeting between these programs. Currently, the series is even at three wins each.
The schools first met in 1999, an Arizona State win in Tempe when Tech lost star running back Ricky Williams to a knee injury. What's interesting is that the road team has never prevailed in this matchup.
Teas Tech fans are hoping that trend continues today in Lubbock. So let's take a look at what the Red Raiders need to do to come away with a victory.
Texas Tech needs to get off to a strong start
One issue that has plagued the Red Raiders this season has been slow starts. Twice in five games, they have trailed at the half in 2026 (against Houston, which opened the game by going up 10-0, and Colorado), and Tech has not had more than a 14-point halftime lead in any game this season. What's more, that lone 14-point halftime lead came against FCS opponent Abilene Christian.
This afternoon, Tech needs to be crisp in the first half. That's going to be tough given that they are coming off of an open date.
Still, if the Red Raiders can jump out to a large early lead, they could start to put some doubt in Arizona State's mind. Already this year, ASU has lost by 28 to Texas A&M and 36 to Baylor.
That home debacle against the Bears and last week's lackluster showing at home against Hawaii led their head coach, Kenny Dillingham, to suggest that his team isn't playing as hard as it needs to. If effort is an issue for ASU, the best way to take advantage of that is to put them in a huge early hole on the road against a top-10 team and make them throw in the towel early.
This year, Tech has been one of the best second-half teams in America. Today, though, the key might be to start fast in the first half and prevent ASU from thinking it has any chance at springing an upset.
Texas Tech must win the early downs on defese
Arizona State is one of the worst teams in the FBS on third down. They convert just 29.7% of their opportunities, which ranks 129th in the country.
So the key for Texas Tech's defense isn't just to be solid on third down, but to make those third-down chances difficult by winning on first and second down. If Tech can constantly put ASU behind the chains, then the Sun Devils will likely struggle to sustain drives.
One way the Red Raiders can win on early downs is to stop the run. That's an area where Tech has been solid this year, allowing just 91.4 yards per game, 17th-best in the country.
Meanwhile, ASU is merely average on the ground. Ranking 61st in the country, they go for 165.4 yards per game.
We know that Arizona State has two big-play wide receivers that they want to feature. But the key to stopping the Sun Devils' offense might be to make them have to throw the ball in obvious situations.
If ASU constantly faces third-and-long today, Tech can drop extra defenders into coverage and let the front four pin its ears back and try to disrupt the passer. That will make life tough for State's offense. However, if ASU has success on early downs, the play-action game could become a factor and open up plenty of opportunities for them to get their star receivers going.
Texas Tech must cut down on ASU's big passing plays
Finally, the Red Raider defense needs to limit Arizona State's big passing plays. That was a huge component of the Devils' win over Tech in Tempe last year, and we should expect the ASU offense to try that same tactic again this year given Tech's propensity for giving up chunk plays through the air.
Now, on the surface, Tech has been better than we might think when it comes to defending the deep ball. The defense ranks 26th nationally in 20-plus-yard receptions allowed, with 12.
However, good receivers have had their way with the Red Raider secondary. Remember that Oregon State freshman phenom Jesse Legree averaged 30 yards per catch against Tech. Also, Houston had a 46-yard TD pass against Tech, while Sam Houston connected on a 52-yard TD pass in Lubbock.
ASU's top receiver, Reed Harris, leads the Big 12 in receiving yards and averages 17.4 per catch. Tech can't let him go off the way Legree did in Corvallis earlier this season.
Rather, the Red Raiders must make ASU sustain drives. Arizona State is one of the most turnover-prone offenses in America, meaning that they are likely to self-sabotage during long drives.
Tech has to keep everything in front of them and make sure that ASU has to do its damage in the form of paper cuts rather than knockout blows. If that and the other factors we've discussed go Tech's way, the home team will stay undefeated on the season.
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