70 Days Until Kansas Football: Opponent Preview - Texas Tech

Until last season, Kansas had never defeated Texas Tech in Lawrence. That obviously changed quick, fast, and in a hurry on October 26 last fall, as KU straight up beat Texas Tech for just the second time in school history. And the thing is, it didn’t take 6 turnovers or a butt fumble. Kansas was simply the better team that night.

The three previous meetings were of the blowout variety; as is evidenced by the series record of 2-19, Texas Tech has routinely dominated this matchup.

Game Info

Kansas @ Texas Tech

Sat, Nov 14, 2020, Time TBD

Lubbock, TX: Jones AT&T Stadium

About the Tech Offense

Texas Tech returns just 48% of its offensive production from 2019, which puts them in the bottom 20% of college football. Most of that figure seems to come from the absence of quarterback Jett Duffey, who is gone after announcing his intention to transfer (and has had difficulty finding a new home). R-Sophomore Alan Bowman is once again the presumptive starter in Lubbock now after starting the first three games last year before going down with an injury and taking a medical redshirt. He also started 7 games for Tech as a true freshman back in 2018.

RB SaRodorick Thompson is back for his sophomore campaign as well, along with three of their top four WRs from last year in Erick Ezukanma, TJ Vasher, and Dalton Rigdon. The Red Raiders are also replacing three senior starters from last year’s offensive line.

About the Tech Defense

Defensively, the Raiders return 71% of their production from last season in what looks to be 7 returning starters from last year’s squad. Last year’s second-leading tackler, Riko Jeffers, is back. Texas Tech will look to players like CB Damarcus Fields, who had 3 INTs last year, to step up and make plays in the secondary.

Preseason Rankings

Per preseason S&P+ projections released back in February, Texas Tech is ranked #59 out of 130 teams, good for 8th in the Big 12. Kansas comes into the season ranked #113.

Fearless Prediction

Kansas put 500+ yards on Tech last year in Lawrence, and once again, the defense doesn’t scare me. I think the Jayhawks will have plenty of opportunity to put up points on this Raider defense, but if Alan Bowman stays healthy, will Kansas be able to keep up? Tech has put up 40+ points on Kansas in 8 of the last 11 meetings; TTU is still 2-1 vs KU when scoring less than 40 points.

But this should be a different Kansas offense this year. The Jayhawks should be full of confidence going into this one, even if the season hasn’t gone well. That said, you just never know - KU could be looking for an extra win or two for bowl eligibility, and if they are, watch out.

However, I’m not ready to predict that. I think that Kansas will get theirs, but Tech will just be too much offensively. Texas Tech 55, Kansas 50.