Birmingham Bowl Preview: Texas Tech vs. USF

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech will make its 38th bowl appearance in school history Saturday when the Red Raiders face USF in the Birmingham Bowl. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. from historic Legion Field with television coverage provided nationally by ESPN.

Tom Hart will call the game for ESPN alongside analyst Gene Chizik and sideline reporter Lauren Sisler. The game can also be streamed nationally through the Watch ESPN 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 broadcast can be streamed nationally on the TuneIn app.

Tickets for the Birmingham Bowl are still on sale through the Texas Tech Ticket Office. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets through the Texas Tech Ticket Office so the university receives credit towards its allotment. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the ticket office at 806-742-TECH during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday).

BOWL STORYLINES

The Birmingham Bowl represents the 38th bowl appearance in Texas Tech history as the Red Raiders have been one of the most frequent teams in the postseason in NCAA history.
Texas Tech enters the postseason ranked 20th among NCAA FBS programs in all-time bowl appearances and third overall among the Big 12 Conference schools.
The Red Raiders, who have won four of their last five bowl games, are 14-22-1 all-time in bowl appearances, which includes a 1-1 record under head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Texas Tech is returning to Birmingham for the first time since 1989 when the Red Raiders topped No. 20 Duke, 49-21, in what was known then as the All-American Bowl. James Gray earned MVP honors for that game after rushing for a Tech bowl record 280 yards to go along with four touchdowns.
This will be the first time Texas Tech has traveled outside the state of Texas or to the west coast for a bowl since 2007 when the Red Raiders downed Virginia, 31-28, in the Gator Bowl. Tech is participating in its 15th bowl since the start of 2000 alone.
If the Red Raiders manage to win the turnover margin against USF, Texas Tech will tie its single-season school record of plus-12 that was most recently set in 1997. Tech enters bowl season at plus-11 in the turnover margin after forcing at least four takeaways in two of the last three games.
Texas Tech will be facing a USF program that has been among the national leaders this year in least turnovers surrendered. The Bulls have lost just 12 turnovers this season, which is tied for 14th nationally for the fewest in the country.
The Birmingham Bowl will mark the first ever meeting between Texas Tech and South Florida. The Bulls become the 131st different opponent for the Red Raiders in school history.
The Red Raiders have not previously faced an opponent from the state of Florida since Texas Tech routed Florida International, 56-3, to start the 2005 season.
Texas Tech faced another AAC member earlier this season as Texas Tech went on the road to top Houston, 27-24, on Sept. 23. The Red Raiders forced five turnovers in the win, while Keke Coutee recorded 161 receiving yards and a touchdown in the win. Houston topped USF, 28-24, on Oct. 28 in Tampa for one of the Bulls' two losses this season.
Texas Tech faced another AAC member earlier this season as Texas Tech went on the road to top Houston, 27-24, on Sept. 23. The Red Raiders forced five turnovers in the win, while Keke Coutee recorded 161 receiving yards and a touchdown in the win. Houston topped USF, 28-24, on Oct. 28 in Tampa for one of the Bulls' two losses this season.
Texas Tech recorded one of the most dominating bowl victories in school history the last time the Red Raiders played on Dec. 23 as the Red Raiders, with head coach Kliff Kingsbury at quarterback, trounced Clemson, 55-15, in the Tangerine Bowl. Kingsbury completed 32-of-43 passes in the rout, while throwing for 375 yards and three touchdowns before being replaced early in the third quarter with the lead well in hand.

Birmingham Bowl Preview: Texas Tech vs. USF

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Players Mentioned

Keke Coutee