Texas Tech vs. North Texas
When: 11 a.m. CT Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas
Records: North Texas (2-0), Texas Tech (1-1)
Last Meeting: Texas Tech defeated North Texas 42-14 on Sept. 22, 2001 at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas
TV: FS1
What’s at stake?
Texas Tech is coming off a gut-wrenching 37-16 road loss to Washington State last weekend and the Red Raiders return home to open a three-game homestand.
Tech and the North Texas coaching staff have plenty of familiarity despite the fact the Mean Green are making their first visit to Lubbock since a 21-14 loss in 2000. UNT is a team off to a nice non-conference start with an excellent opportunity against a reeling Red Raider team.
Tech must find a way to regroup after a complete no-show on the road ahead of Big 12 conference play, which starts next weekend against Arizona State at Jones AT&T Stadium.
When Texas Tech has the ball
The Red Raiders possess one of the most potent passing offenses from a yardage perspective, leading the Big 12 with 360.5 yards per game. The offense is led by quarterback Behren Morton and his favorite wide receiver Josh Kelly, who gets plenty of targets in the screen game.
Tech will be facing a defense that has been good at getting off the field on third down this season, but has struggled with defending both the run and the pass at times through two games.
With Tech hopeful that Tahj Brooks will be back in the fold, it will be interesting to see if the Red Raiders can get back to being balanced after a pass-happy performance against the Cougars.
When North Texas has the ball
The Mean Green bring an uber-experienced quarterback to Lubbock in TCU transfer Chandler Morris, who is second in the nation in passing yards through two weeks.
The Red Raiders will hope to play better defense, coming off two performances that have “embarrassed” head coach Joey McGuire for different reasons. Tech gave up over 500 passing yards against Abilene Christian and then proceeded to get steamrolled by the quarterback run in Pullman, so keeping Morris and Co. in check will be paramount.
The play caller Eric Morris, another coach with Red Raider ties, runs a very intriguing offense that allows Morris to get the ball to his playmakers quickly, most notably Damon Ward Jr. and DT Sheffield.
This is a creative way to get Cross Blocking on Bubble Screen
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) September 4, 2024
Short Motion to Crack & Overlap to the Corner pic.twitter.com/JPZlGT0Oll
Prediction
This is another very interesting game where the Red Raiders are heavily favored. However, Tech hasn’t played their best football over the past two weeks.
With an inconsistent Red Raider team trying to find its footing early in the year alongside a North Texas team that has started well with a large opportunity against a power-four team, this game should be close.
Will the Red Raiders be able to tighten up on defense? Will Tech’s offense find a stroke of consistency? Only time will tell, but it’s an uneasy feeling in Lubbock heading into this one.
Score: Texas Tech 31, North Texas 28.
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