TCU Football Week 9 Opponent Preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders – Sports Illustrated

The TCU Horned Frogs (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) needed a bounce-back win and got it last week in Salt Lake City with a 13-7 win over Utah. Only two more wins are needed for a bowl appearance, and a lot of luck is needed to get back into Big 12 Conference contention. But a big opportunity opens up this weekend as TCU hosts the rival Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-2, 3-1). A loss here probably closes the door on the league.

TCU vs. Texas Tech kicks off Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m. CT from Amon G. Carter Stadium. Watch the game on FOX or on the radio at 92.5 FM KZPS.

This rivalry game dates back to 1926 and includes 66 editions. Texas Tech leads the all-time series, 33-30-3, but TCU has won seven of the last ten meetings. The two played nearly every year from 1955-95 when they shared the Southwest Conference. But when the league folded, Texas Tech and TCU split, playing just twice between 1996-2011.

After reuniting in the Big 12, Tech took the first two meetings over TCU. The third Big 12 meeting in 2014 is perhaps the most famous of the series, as the Horned Frogs dropped 84 points on the Red Raiders at home. Other penalties include a 56-53 final in 2013, a 55-52 final in 2015 and a 52-31 result in 2021.

But it wasn’t everyone offensive contests – Texas Tech upset TCU in Fort Worth, 17-14, in 2018 and 2017 included a 27-3 finish the year before. The last five meetings since those two low-scoring affairs have averaged a combined 64 points.

I’m knocking on wood a lot as I write this, but Texas Tech has finally kept the quarterback healthy. Junior Beren Morton has started all seven games and posted excellent numbers: 1,923 yards passing, 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Love also spreads around. Washington State transfer WR Josh Kelly leads team with 70 targets and 54 receptions Florida transfer Caleb Douglas captured 30 of his first 47 targets and Who Eakin– who missed last year due to injury – has 42 targets of his own (22 receptions).

Seven Red Raiders have a touchdown reception this season. Arizona State transfer TE Jalyn Conyers has a pair of touchdown receptions and a rotational TE Joncarlos Miller II has a nose for the end zone, scoring three times on just six receptions.

Running back Taj Brooksafter a 1,500-yard season, quietly amassed 800 yards and eight scores in his first six games (he missed one due to injury). Overshadowed by monster seasons from Ashton Jeanty (Boise State), Caleb Johnson (Iowa) and Dylan Sampson (Tennessee), Brooks has flown under the radar but is on track for another 1,000+ yard season.

Tech is missing a pair of important starters on defense: edge rusher Joseph Adedire and defensive means E’Maurion Banks both are ready for the season. Adedire’s support, Dylan Spenceralso out for the year.

Texas Tech’s 5-2 record is hard to fathom. On the one hand, there are wins over Arizona State (5-2) and Cincinnati (5-2); on the other hand, the Red Raiders suffered huge losses to Washington State (6-1!) and Baylor (3-4), while needing overtime to hold off FCS Abilene Christian, a game in which Tech surrendered 51 points. The toughest, and therefore most telling, stretch of the schedule lies ahead for the Red Raiders.

Offensively, this team is buzzing. Morton is playing some of the best football in the conference despite the limited attention. His 17 passing touchdowns rank second in the Big 12, but he has half the interceptions of Shadear Sanders, Jake Retzlaff or Josh Hoover. Brooks offers a strong second strike on offense and keeps defenses honest in the box.

At first glance, technical protection seems to be the main problem. And in spurts it is like that. The Red Raiders gave up 59 to Baylor, 51 to Abilene Christian and 41 to Cincinnati. But it also completely slammed on the brakes on Arizona (22 points), Arizona State (22 points) and a high-powered North Texas offense led by Chandler Morris (21 points).

Passing volume and top-end receivers give Texas Tech fits. It’s an offensive game plan that TCU is behind, as Hoover leads the Big 12 with 280 pass attempts. As shown in the Arizona game, Tech lets the best offensive option take over — Tetiaroa McMillan had 161 receiving yards — and teams with a strong second option score a lot of points (see Baylor).

But this second option should be viable. TCU spreads the football through the air but has struggled on the ground this season. It’s a good matchup for the Frogs’ offense, though the defense must figure out a way to limit a Tech offense that has topped 35 points in four of its seven games and 28 points in all but one contest.

Opponent Rundown

A team: Texas Tech Red Raiders

Record: 5-2 (3-1 Big 12)

Coach: Joey McGuire (3rd year here)

Scoring offense: 36.5 points per game (17th)

Point defense: 33.7 points allowed per game (110th)

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