Spring Football Preview: Texas Tech

The Cowboys will welcome the Red Raiders for their penultimate home game of 2026. The matchup could provide a valuable juxtaposition for the Pokes.

Texas Tech has turned into a Big 12 powerhouse seemingly overnight, effectively taking the spot OSU forfeited as the wheels fell off the last two seasons — and then going a step further. If things continue that way for the Red Raiders, this matchup could provide a nice measuring stick for the Cowboys as they try to turn things around.

Let’s get into the matchup.

Be sure you check out the rest of our Spring Schedule Previews: Noncon | WVU | UCF | Houston | Colorado | Iowa State | Kansas State

Week 10: Texas Tech | Nov. 14 | Stillwater, Okla.

Series history: 24-25-3

Last meeting: It wasn’t pretty.

Texas Tech returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, forced a three-and-out on OSU’s first drive, blocked the punt and then scored a TD on the Red Raiders’ next drive. That’s about how it went for the Cowboys who were trounced 42-zip.

Tech in 2025: The Red Raiders are coming off a banner year which included their first 12-win season, their first Big 12 title and their first playoff berth. Tech hadn’t reached double digit wins since Mike Leach was running things, and this was just their second time to hit that mark since 1976.

Unlike when Leach was running things, the Red Raiders got their hardware in large part because of their ability to slow teams down. Texas Tech ranked third nationally in both scoring defense and total defense last year. They had talent only money can buy, especially on that side of the ball. Tech landed five defenders on the All-Big 12 first team with the trio of D-linemen in David Bailey, Romello Height and Lee Hunter and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, All-American Jacob Rodriguez.

Tech in 2026: Don’t expect the Red Raiders to take a step back in 2026. Head coach Joey McGuire continued to clean up in the portal this offseason, pulling in a group of linemen that includes Mateen Ibirogba, Trey White and Adam Trick to replenish his defense. And he brought in Cincy QB Brendan Sorsby to replace outgoing starter Behren Morton. Last year, Sorsby accounted for five total TDs against the Cowboys.

Needless to say, this turnaround doesn’t figure to be a flash in the pan. Tech still looks like the team to beat in flyover country.

Of note: Tech’s meteoric rise is inspirational for any program, but aspirational for the Cowboys. An estimated $55 million of NIL spending goes a long way, but the Cowboys are currently ranked 7th in team transfer portal rankings according to 247Sports, three spots above the Red Raiders. I’m not ready to pick the Pokes to take the Big 12 this year, but it will be interesting to see how quickly the program can rebound and Tech has provided quite the blueprint.