Texas Tech University Athletics
Postgame Notes: Texas Tech at Colorado
October 03, 2026 | Football
Texas Tech Football Postgame Notes
The Red Raiders defeated the Buffaloes, 29-7, Saturday eveningย
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Date:ย Oct. 3, 2026
Kickoff:ย 5:35 p.m. Mountain
Location:ย Folsom Field; Boulder, Colorado
Weather:ย 81ยฐ, clear
Attendance:ย 50,106
Final Score:ย No. 12/10 Texas Tech 29, Colorado 7
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TEAM
โข Texas Tech improved to 5-0 for the second consecutive season; it's the first time in program history. The only other FBS programs that have matched a similar back-to-back start with 5-0 starts in both 2025 and 2026 are BYU, Indiana and Miami (Fla.).
โข Texas Tech evened the all-time series with Colorado, 6-6, with tonight's win.
โข The road team has now claimed the last four wins in this series; it's also back-to-back wins for the Red Raiders in Boulder dating back to its last trip in 2010 (W, 27-24).
โข The Red Raiders have won their last three road games by at least 10 points, their longest streak since a three-game run in 2013. The only time in the last 45 seasons they have won four straight road games by double digits was in 2008 (four-game stretch).
โข Joey McGuire earned win No. 40 on Saturday night. He becomes the fastest Texas Tech head coach to reach 40 wins in school history, needing just 58 games to do so.
โข Four takeaways tonight pushed Texas Tech to 100 takeaways in the McGuire era. Tech won the turnover battle for the first time this season. Tech improves tonight to 33-3 in contests when it wins or at least ties the turnover battle under McGuire.
โข Tech trailed 7-3 after the first quarter afterย Colorado had 149 yards of total offense versus the Red Raiders' 51 yards of total offense. Texas Tech limited Colorado to just 71 yards of offense in the second quarter, but still trailed in total offense, 220-147, at the break. Neither team scored in the second quarter, and it was 7-3 at halftime. It was the second time this season the Red Raiders trailed at the break; Tech won that game versus Houston, 28-26, when it trailed 17-14.
โข Texas Tech outscored Colorado, 26-0, in the second half. The Red Raiders did not allow a point after Colorado's opening drive as Texas Tech won 29-7 on Saturday night.
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THE OFFENSE
โข The Red Raiders did not commit a turnover on Saturday. It was the first time this season they did not commit a turnover and the first time since hosting UCF in 2025.
โข J'Koby Williams led Texas Tech in all-purpose yardage with 114 yards. Williams has posted 100-plus yards of all-purpose yardage in four of five games this season.
โข Williams burst for a 35-yard rush, his second explosive play of 35 yards or greater this season after he scampered for a 38-yard rush at Oregon State.
โข Terrance Carter Jr. caught his first touchdown pass of the season, an 11-yard strike from Will Hammond at the 3:01 mark of the third quarter to give Texas Tech its first lead, 12-7. The Red Raiders failed to convert a 2-point conversion on the ensuing play. It was Carter's sixth score as a Red Raider and 13th of his career.
โขย Carter led the Red Raiders with eight receptions on Saturday. It matched Williams' eight receptions versus Abilene Christian as a season high for individual receptions in a single game.ย
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THE DEFENSE
โข Texas Tech would not allow a single point throughout the remainder of the game after allowing a touchdown on the opening drive. It was the first time this season the Red Raiders allowed their opponent to score a touchdown on their opening drive. Texas Tech allowed its opponent to score a touchdown once in 2025, in the Big 12 Championship Game versus BYU.
โข The Red Raiderย defense shut out its opponent in the second half for the second straight game.
โข Texas Tech intercepted four passes on Saturday night as it won the turnover battle, 4-0. It was the first time the Red Raiders had intercepted four passes in a game since the 2021 season opener versus Houston at NRG Stadium. All four came in the second half, and three of the four interceptions came in the third quarter.
โข Brice Pollock nabbed his first and second interceptions of the season, which were his seventh and eighth career interceptions. It was his second career game with multiple interceptions, dating back to Sept. 13, 2025, versus Oregon State.
โข Malik Esquerra recorded his first career interception in the third quarter.
โข John Curry intercepted a pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter for Texas Tech's fourth takeaway. It marks back-to-back games with "Pick 6s" for the Red Raiders' defense.
โข Texas Tech posted its second straight game with three or more interceptions. It was the first time the Red Raiders had back-to-back games with three or more interceptions since 2019, when they had three in each of the Oct. 5 contest versus Oklahoma State and the Oct. 12 contest at Baylor.
โข Mateen Ibirogba recorded his first sack as a Red Raider. It was one of the Red Raiders' only sacks on Saturday, snapping the longest active streak in the FBS of eight straight games with multiple sacks in the same game.
โข Texas Tech was 0-for-2 on fourth downs tonight, dropping to 3-for-6 on the season. The Red Raiders have not allowed points on any of the three ensuing drives this season.
โข Brice Butler made his first start in a Texas Tech uniform on Saturday. It was his second career start, dating back to his stint at Washington.
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SPECIAL TEAMS
โข Stone Harrington attempted his first field goal in two games in the first quarter, connectingย on a 52-yard field goal to cut the Red Raiders' deficit to 7-3 with 7:11 left in the first quarter. It was his longest make of the season thus far and fourth career make from 50 yards or better after going 3-of-6 on kicks 50 yards or greater in 2025.
โข Harrington finished the game 3-of-4, missing his second attempt, a 51-yard attempt late in the second quarter. He knocked home a 27-yard try in the third quarter and a 48-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
โข Will Karoll registered his longest punt of the season, a 67-yard kick, after the Red Raiders' first possession of the second half. He also recorded a 66-yard punt that was downed at the 1-yard line, setting up John Curry's pick-6 on the next play. Karoll finished with a 55.7-yard average on three attempts.
