Game Preview: Texas

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech closes the regular season in the state capital Friday night when the Red Raiders face Texas in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. The game will air live nationally on FOX as well as the Texas Tech Sports Network.

Tim Brando will call the game for FOX alongside analyst Spencer Tillman and sideline reporter Holly Sonders. The game can also be streamed nationally through the FOX Sports Go app.

The Texas Tech Sports Network will also broadcast the game over 46 affiliates throughout the state of Texas and New Mexico as Brian Jensen will have the call alongside analyst John Harris, sideline reporter Chris Level and engineer Steve Pitts. The radio broadcast can also be heard on Sirius channel 84, XM channel 84 or via the TuneIn app.

SATURDAY STORYLINES

Texas Tech's hopes to reach its 38th bowl in school history comes down to this Friday night's tilt in Austin as the Red Raiders will need a win over the Longhorns to extend their season. Tech enters the game with a 3-2 record this season in games away from Lubbock.
The matchup between Texas Tech and Texas features two of the most consistent postseason teams in NCAA history as the two schools are among the top-20 programs all-time in bowl appearances. In fact, Texas Tech and Texas are two of just three Big 12 schools who currently rank in the top 20 for bowl appearances in FBS history.
Texas Tech found success in its last visit to the state capital in 2015 as the Red Raiders picked up their first road victory over their in-state rival since 1997 thanks to a 48-45 victory. Tech recorded 665 yards of total offense in the win as the Red Raiders were balanced offensively with 372 passing yards and 293 yards on the ground, 173 of which came from current Oakland Raider running back DeAndre Washington.
Dating back to the start of the series in 1928, Texas Tech has never won consecutive road games against Texas as the Red Raiders are just 6-30 all-time in Austin.
The Red Raiders remain the Big 12 leader in turnovers gained this season as Texas Tech has totaled 23 takeaways this season. Tech ranks 10th nationally in the category and tied for fourth among power-five teams entering the final weekend of the regular season.
Texas Tech is now plus-9 in the turnover margin, which ranks tied for 13th nationally and third in the Big 12. The Red Raiders, who have recorded at least one turnover in all 11 games this year, are closing in on the single-season school record of plus-12, which was set during the 1991, 1993 and 1997 campaigns.
Texas Tech and Texas will be meeting for the 67th time in history and the 58th-consecutive year Saturday when the Red Raiders travel to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. The Longhorns control a 50-16 all-time advantage in the series, which includes a 30-6 lead in games played in the state capital.
Texas Tech surrendered just 289 yards of total offense a week ago against TCU, its fewest against a Big 12 foe since Iowa State had just 189 yards against the Red Raiders in 2012. In addition, Tech allowed just 85 yards through the air, the fewest for a Tech opponent since facing Texas in 2015.
Texas Tech's improvements on the defensive side of the ball have come with a relatively young unit that is slated to return 10 of its 11 regular starters next season. The lone senior among the regular starters is defensive linemen Mychealon Thomas.
In the NCAA statistical rankings, Texas Tech enters this weekend ranked 10th in turnovers gained (23) and 14th in turnover margin per game (0.82), which is a drastic improvement from a year ago. The Red Raiders concluded the 2016 season ranked 93rd for turnover margin and 112th for turnovers gained.

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Players Mentioned

Mychealon Thomas