Game Preview: Red Raiders Open Home Slate With SFA

LUBBOCK, Texas – Fresh off a dominating second-half performance last weekend against Houston, Texas Tech will look for a similar showing this Saturday when the Red Raiders host Stephen F. Austin in their home opener. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Jones AT&T Stadium.
 
Mark Neely and analyst Brandon Jacobs will call the game from inside Jones AT&T Stadium as coverage will be provided via Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The broadcast can be accessed from any desktop or laptop computer, any personal cellular device and television streaming services using the ESPN app. Registration for the subscription service can be found at ESPNPlus.com.
 
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 on XM channel 211, Sirius channel 211 or via the TuneIn app.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES

• Texas Tech will face Stephen F. Austin for the fourth time in program history Saturday as the Red Raiders are 3-0 all-time against the Lumberjacks. All three meetings have been lob-sided wins for the Red Raiders, who own an average margin of victory of just over 48 points in the series.
• This will be the first meeting between the two schools since the 2016 season opener when Patrick Mahomes II racked up for more than 500 yards of total offense in just over one half of play. The Red Raiders routed the Lumberjacks, 69-17, in front of 69,097 fans, the 16th-largest crowd in Jones AT&T Stadium history. Texas Tech also hosted SFA for a 58-3 rout late in the 2001 season and then a 61-13 victory in 2013.
• Saturday's game will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, a tragic event that ultimately led to the first meeting between the two schools in 2001. SFA was not originally on Texas Tech's slate in 2001 but was added after the Red Raiders' scheduled game at UTEP, set for Sept. 13, was canceled when the NCAA announced that all college football games that weekend would be postponed. Due to schedule conflicts, Texas Tech was unable to find a replacement date with UTEP and instead added a post-Thanksgiving game at home against the Lumberjacks.

 
TEXAS TECH ALL-TIME AGAINST THE FCS

• Since 1978 when the NCAA divided its Division I schools into two divisions, Texas Tech has compiled a 24-1 all-time record against FCS opponents. All of those games have been played at Jones AT&T Stadium. Texas Tech has won its last 18-consecutive games against FCS opponents dating back to the 1988 season. The NCAA renamed Division 1A and Division I-AA to FBS and FCS in 2006 to note the distinction in football programs.

• This is the 11th time in the past 15 seasons where the Red Raiders have faced an FCS program in their home opener. Texas Tech is a perfect 10-0 in those games.
• Texas Tech is averaging an impressive 52.6 points per game all-time against FCS foes. The Red Raiders have reached the 40-point mark in each of their last eight meetings with FCS programs.
• Texas Tech's lone loss to an FCS program came in 1988 when North Texas stunned the Red Raiders, 29-24, inside Jones AT&T Stadium.

 
TEXAS TECH IN HOME OPENERS

• The Red Raiders have been dominant in home openers during their history as Texas Tech is 75-18-3 all-time after winning each of its last 21 openers inside Jones AT&T Stadium. Texas Tech has not dropped a home opener since 1999 when North Texas, by then an FBS school, shocked the Red Raiders, 23-14, in the third game of the season.
• Since 1980, Texas Tech is 37-4 in home openers with two of those losses coming to ranked opponents (1992 vs. No. 15 Oklahoma and 1990 vs. No. 18 Houston).
• Texas Tech has scored at least 40 points in nine of its last 10 home openers. The Red Raiders, who are averaging 49.1 points per game in home openers since 2000, have scored 50 or more points in nine of those games and 60 points four times.
• Texas Tech has won each of its last 21 home openers, the majority of which being in a blowout fashion. The Red Raiders have averaged 30.3 points as their margin of victory over the course of the winning streak.

 
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS FAMILIAR FOR RED RAIDERS

• Texas Tech enters this weekend having won each of its last 12 non-conference games at home and 37 of its last 38 contests dating back to the 2002 season. The Red Raiders are an impressive 44-2 overall in non-conference home games since moving to a spread offense in 2000.
• Texas Tech's success against non-conference opponents from either the FCS level or a Group of Five conference is even more impressive as the Red Raiders have won each of their last 28 regular-season contests at home or on the road against non-power five members.
• In fact, Texas Tech has not dropped a non-conference game against a Group of Five opponent since falling at No. 17 Houston, 29-28, early in the 2009 season. In addition, Tech has not lost to an unranked, Group of Five opponent since New Mexico surprised the Red Raiders, 27-24, in 2004.
• Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells is 4-1 in non-conference games during his tenure at Texas Tech and is 16-14 over his career with 10 of those losses coming to power-five schools, nine of which that were during his tenure at Utah State. Texas Tech can run through the non-conference slate with an undefeated record for the first time in Wells' career with wins the next two weeks against Stephen F. Austin and Florida International (not including 2020 where there was only one non-conference game).

 
TEXAS TECH SET TO HONOR THE LIVES LOST ON 9-11

• Texas Tech will honor the lives of those lost during the terrorist attacks on our country this Saturday with a special pregame ceremony prior to kickoff against the Lumberjacks. Pregame festivities include bagpipes, a 21-gun salute and a flyover to recognize the lives lost during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in the nation's capital. Texas Tech will also recognize several area first responders prior to and throughout its home opener as part of its Celebrate America promotion.
• Pregame events for Saturday also include a performance from four-time NBA world champion Shaquille O'Neal, who will be the special guest deejay at Raider Alley. Texas Tech is actively searching for additional musical acts for its Raider Alley venue, which is located on the Engineering Key in the heart of campus.

 
RECAPPING THE HOUSTON WIN

• Texas Tech overcame a 14-point deficit to win for the second time in its last four games as the Red Raiders previously battled back from a similar hole late in the 2020 season against Baylor. Prior to that game, the Red Raiders had not overcome such a deficit since rallying from a 20-0 hole against Kansas in 2011.
• The victory marked the fourth-straight for the Red Raiders over the Cougars as Texas Tech is now 16-3 against former Southwest Conference foes since the league disbanded in 1995. The Red Raiders have now won nine of the past 10 meetings against Houston, including four of the five meetings since joining the Big 12 in 1996.
• Texas Tech started its season with a victory for the 18th time in the past 19 years after defeating the Cougars. With the win, the Red Raiders improved to 67-27-3 all-time in season openers.
• Texas Tech notched four interceptions in the win, its most in a game since the Red Raiders picked off five passes against SMU early in the 2008 season. For comparisons sake, Texas Tech is now just one interception shy of its entire total from the 2020 season.
• Texas Tech's four interceptions matched the most in the FBS through the first full weekend of the college football season as both Arizona State and Kent State both picked off four passes.
• Texas Tech limited Houston to only 251 yards of total offense, marking the second-straight game the Red Raiders have held an opponent to less than 300 yards dating back to the 2020 finale against Kansas. The Cougars only totaled 53 yards of total offense in the second half and went no where on the ground with negative-18 yards.
• The Red Raider defense was in the backfield often against the Cougars after totaling 11.0 tackles for loss, its most since recording the same amount against Baylor midway through the 2019 season.
• The Red Raiders shut out Houston over the final 30 minutes of play, marking the first second-half shutout by Texas Tech since blanking No. 15 Oklahoma State to open Big 12 play with a victory in 2018.
• Texas Tech was limited to only 52 offensive plays in the win after Houston controlled possession for majority of the first half. It marked the third-fewest offensive plays for the Red Raiders in a game since 2000 and their fewest in a win since Texas Tech only attempted 48 in an overtime victory over Nebraska in 2008.
• Tahj Brooks had a breakout game on the ground, finishing with a career-high 134 yards, which included a pair of long touchdown runs. Brooks, who reached the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career, found the end zone via a 41-yard scamper early in the second quarter and then capped the big night with a 44-yard touchdown run with one minute remaining.
• Riko Jeffers stepped in front of a Clayton Tune pass midway through the third quarter for his first career interception. Jeffers returned the interception 13 yards for a touchdown, marking the first pick-six by a Red Raider since Adrian Frye went 43 yards into the end zone against Lamar in 2018.
• In addition to Jeffers, Reggie Pearson Jr. and Eric Monroe both recorded the first career interception of their respective careers. Pearson, in his debut as a Red Raider, also forced a fumble and had eight tackles, while Monroe contributed five tackles from his spot in the secondary.
• Colin Schooler reached double digits for tackles for the 15th time in his career and the second time as a Red Raider after notching 10 against the Cougars. That total included a pair of tackles that went for a loss, giving him 53.0 now over his career at both Texas Tech and the University of Arizona.
• Tyler Shough made his debut for the Red Raiders under center, completing 17-of-24 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for one other. His most frequent target was Erik Ezukanma, who caught seven of those passes for 179 yards. It was the third career 100-yard outing for Ezukanma as he led all FBS receivers in single-game receiving yards through this past weekend.
• The play of both Jeffers and Pearson earned the two Big 12 weekly award honors as Jeffers was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week, while Pearson was recognized as the top newcomer. It was the first conference weekly award in each of their respective careers.

Brought it on Saturday ?? pic.twitter.com/5LgbRFNeVX

— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) September 6, 2021