Longhorns Country

Texas Longhorns Season Finale Preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Texas Longhorns have one final road block on their way to a Big 12 Championship appearance - the Texas Tech Red Raiders

Matt Galatzan

In this story:

The No. 7 Texas Longhorns are just one win away from a Big 12 Championship - and perhaps College Football Playoff - appearance and standing in their way is their bitter rival - the Texas Tech Red Raiders. 

Not only that but after their overtime loss to the Red Raiders in 2022, the Longhorns will also be looking for a little bit of revenge in the process. 

All of that, in combination with the bulletin board material Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire ahead of the season, and the Longhorns are sure to be laser-focused on Friday's matchup.

“These so-called bluebloods — and I really question that," McGuire said prior to the season. "One of them’s really good in Olympic sports.”

Overall, the Longhorns lead the series 54-18 and are 17-5 vs. the Red Raiders since the turn of the century.

So far this season, the Red Raiders have been underwhelming at best, sitting at 6-5, with losses to Wyoming and BYU, and a narrow win over UCF last week.

That said, the Red Raiders also put the No. 6 Oregon Ducks on the ropes earlier in the season, falling 38-30 in Lubbock.

With that in mind let's take a look at the Red Raiders ahead of Friday's matchup in Austin.

Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton (2) is pressured by Central Florida Knights defensive safety Jireh Wilson (9) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field / Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Tech Red Raiders:

2023 record: 6-5, (5-3 Big 12)

Head coach: Joey McGuire

Offensive Leaders

Passing: Behren Morton, Soph.

2023 stats: 136 of 215, 1,410 yards, 12 touchdowns, four interceptions

Rushing: RB Tahj Brooks

2023 stats: 250 carries, 1,352 yards, 5.4 YPC, nine touchdowns

Receiving: WR Jerand Bradley

2023 stats: 36 catches, 431 yards, 12 yards per catch, four touchdowns

Defensive Leaders

Tackles: LB Ben Roberts - 87

Interceptions: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson - four

Sacks: Jaylon Hutchings DL and Myles Cole LB - 3.5 each

Every Scenario You Need to Know For Big 12 Championship Contenders Ahead Of Final Week

Published
Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writer’s Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014 covering the Dallas Mavericks and SMU Mustangs with 247Sports. He then moved to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.

Home/Football