Tony Thomas
Writer
The 2025 campaign has been an exciting and successful season so far for the fans of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The masked riders of college football have taken the sport by storm, posting an 8-1 record and a No. 8 ranking in the initial College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings.
With guns up and guns blazing, Texas Tech reeled off six straight victories to start this season and has a win over a ranked opponent as they beat the 16th-ranked Utah Utes 34-10 on Sep. 20.
The Red Raiders’ offense is humming along at a stellar pace. They have averaged 43.6 points per game, which is tied for third best in the nation. Texas Tech has scored 60 points twice and 40 points four times.
Running back Cameron Dickey has rushed for 746 yards and 10 touchdowns. Dickey has averaged a superb 5.57 yards per carry and leads the Big 12 Conference in rushing TDs.
Undefeated at home, the Red Raiders are 5-0 at Jones AT&T Stadium. Balanced on both offense and defense, Texas Tech has outscored its last two opponents, Oklahoma State and Kansas State, 85-20. A stifling Red Raiders defense is ranked in the top ten in five different categories:
The Texas Tech defense gets off the field on 3rd down at a reasonable rate, holding opponents’ conversion rate to 31.91 percent.
In addition, if you want to run the ball against the Red Raiders, think again. They hold opponents to a dismal 2.41 yards per carry. Against Oregon State, they held the Beavers to just eight yards rushing on 22 carries. That’s less than a half yard per carry.
Leading this defensive juggernaut is a talented linebacker corps consisting of Jacob Rodriguez and David Bailey. J-Rod is a marauder on the gridiron and has his hand in almost every play: two INTs, one fumble recovery for a TD, 77 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and a whopping seven forced fumbles.
For his efforts, Rodriguez has been named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, given to the top linebacker in college football. Not bad for a total football guy who gave up a scholarship as a quarterback at Virginia to walk on at Texas Tech as a linebacker.
Talented and stellar in his own right, Bailey leads the team in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (11.5). Bailey has been named a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, given to the top lineman or linebacker in college football.
In the secondary, cornerback Brice Pollock has posted four INTs, 32 tackles and four pass breakups.
Next up for the Red Raiders are the BYU Cougars on Nov. 8, undefeated (8-0) and ranked No. 7 in the first CFP rankings. The two teams have met only twice in their football histories. BYU won in 2023, while Texas Tech won way back in 1940.
While there will be no tortilla tossing on game day, Texas Tech fans will be loud and cheering their favorite sons. The colors of the day will be red and black and displayed for all to see.
“Bangin Bertha” will ring throughout the arena and raise the spirits of all who hear it. The Red Raiders will exit the tunnel, ready to pillage and plunder a victory away from the Cougars and send them back to Provo beaten and defeated.
Cody Croy
Writer
The 15th annual NFL honors ceremony was held on Thursday night and a couple former Buckeyes brought home some hardware. Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba took home the Offensive Player Of The Year award, given to the best offensive player in the NFL. Smith-Njigba had a sensational season, converting 119 catches, 1,793 yards, […]
Bryson Blue
Writer
The Utah Utes’ (11-2, 7-2 Big 12) season ended in triumph with a win over Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl, but that didn’t stop a mass exodus of talent from coming.
Tony Thomas
Writer
The Oregon Ducks defense pillaged the championship aspirations of Texas Tech from their competitive psyche
