Texas Tech started 4-1, its best start to a season in over a decade. Tech went 3-0 on the homestand, capping it off with a thrilling victory over Cincinnati.
This is the second time this season that the Red Raiders have played on the road, the first being a no-show against Washington State in Pullman. They had another crack at perennial Pac-12 schools on the road late at night, except this time it was a newly established Big 12 opponent in Arizona State.
“It’s going to be the second time this year that a game that used to be called the Pac-12 is played after midnight or whatever it is, and it’s going to be a late game,” head coach Joey McGuire said Monday. “The players are in a good mental state. We have a lot of confidence right now and we’ve got a chance to go 1-0 in the Big 12, so we’re going to go for it.”
RELATED: Texas’ Best Poll (9/30): SMU, Texas A&M in close battle for No. 2 spot behind Longhorns
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The Red Raiders haven’t had a great record on the road away from AT&T Stadium, coached by McGuire. During his tenure, Tech has a record of 3 wins and 9 losses on the road.
In search of answers, McGuire has visited Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, Texas Tech basketball head coach Grant McCasland, and many others. But this week is all about looking back at how Tech was able to win those three games.
“So in our staff meeting this morning, I highlighted our winning plans from the last three years and the games we won against Iowa State, Kansas State and Baylor,” McGuire said. “Obviously I’ll be the captain, but we’re winning plans to win, we’re winning decisively…I mean, good football has to travel. And we went through the The losses, and all of them, either one of our plans to win didn’t win, or one of seven plans to win. So we went back and said, ‘We don’t beat ourselves.’ I have to concentrate on that.”
The Red Raiders will face a massive test this weekend against the Wildcats as an old Border Conference rivalry is reignited. Arizona’s well-matched quarterback/wide receiver duo of Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan will be a big draw for Tech.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) makes a catch and Utah cornerback Zemaiah Bourne during an NCAA college football game in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (5) and got the first down. (Tyler Tate/AP)
“We’re playing against a really good quarterback. He’s very mobile. We’ve struggled with that, so we’ve got to keep him good. He uses his feet to make plays. It’s going to be tough because we do a great job of extending it,” McGuire said. “They have McMillan, probably the best, if not the best, wide receiver in college football. They have great chemistry. They were high school teammates and will go to Arizona together. and chose to stay there. And you can tell they have great chemistry.”
Texas Tech hopes to get lead corner Bralynn Lux back in this game, which will help Tech’s struggling secondary at McMillan this weekend in Tucson.
“We could talk about it a lot and we could sit here for two hours and talk about what we’re not doing on defense,” McGuire said. “It’s very frustrating. I learned this a long time ago, but insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. So this week I’m trying to be a more physical receiver. I hope.”
Tech and Arizona will meet for the second time since 1990 on Saturday, with kickoff at 10 p.m. on FOX.
Best Texas Poll (9/30): SMU, Texas A&M in close battle for No. 2 spot behind LonghornsAP College Football Poll (9/29): Alabama beats Georgia, Texas Moves state to first place
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