Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (0-0, 0-0)
Bad Guys: Abilene Christian Wildcats (0-1, 0-0)
Where: Galaxy Stadium | Lubbock, Texas
When: Saturday, September 5th @ 6:00 pm
TV & Streaming: FS1
Radio: The Varsity Network
The Line: Texas Tech -42.5
Game Notes: Texas Tech | Abilene Christian
Weather Report: Mostly Sunny, High 98 Low 72
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams: Shiel Wood, a man on the move, finally parked with Texas Tech football
Can Tech put a stop to his pattern of never staying in one place for long?
“I certainly hope,” Wood said. “We love it here. Joey McGuire has been unbelievable. The resources, the alignment that we have here has been phenomenal, so couldn’t be happier being in Lubbock. Love the Lubbock community, the school system for our children, the location, the size of the place, it’s just been great. People are awesome.”
Wood spent the past decade moving so often because he succeeded at improving whatever group he inherited. Every winter, someone new wanted to hire him.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: Will Texas Tech football demolish Abilene Christian? Our score prediction
Texas Tech 56, Abilene Christian 14: Tech has allowed fewer than 18 points in every game in its eight-game home winning streak, and the Red Raiders will look to make a statement early and often.
Abilene Christian: Texas Tech to ACU Pipeline “Instrumental” to Wildcats’ Success
It is part of a working relationship which has been going on since the end of the 2021 season when Keith Patterson was hired as ACU’s head coach, and Joey McGuire became the Red Raiders’ head coach.
“I would be hard pressed to think of one player that Joey has texted, called or recommended that has come here that hasn’t been productive,” said Patterson. “I think almost every young man has made an impact, or is going to.”
Denver Gazette’s Chris Chris Tomasson: With Davis Webb making Broncos coordinator debut vs. Chiefs, memories linger of Texas Tech days with Patrick Mahomes
After Webb left Texas Tech, he remained close to Mahomes. Both ended up being selected in the 2017 NFL draft, Mahomes going No. 10 in the first round to the Chiefs and Webb No. 87 in the third round by the New York Giants.
They have seen each other plenty from when Webb played in the NFL from 2017-22 and during his last three seasons as a Broncos assistant.
“Pat was a great teammate, first of all,’’ Webb said. “We were really close in college and we’re still close today. … The coaching schedule gets a little bit more busy than the players’ schedule in the offseason, but we’ll connect as much as we can through texts and DMs (direct messages).”
Red Raider Sports’ Lane Selph: ‘The best right guard in the country’: Everything Joey McGuire, Texas Tech players said at Red Raider Football radio show
One tendency stood out to Romaine while preparing for Saturday.
ACU leaned heavily on 12 personnel. Romaine said “the Wildcats used the personnel grouping on every offensive snap but one against Lamar.” That matches what ACU showed throughout its opener, with tight ends Jayden York and Larry Benton both being heavily involved in the offense.
For Roberts and Romaine, facing Texas Tech’s offense every day has provided plenty of preparation for offenses that want to change formations and personnel. Roberts said the variety of formations that offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich uses, forces Texas Tech’s defense to prepare for numerous looks in practice, something he believes will benefit the group throughout the season.
Texas Tech Athletics: Texas Tech announces Athletics Director’s Circle
Texas Tech Athletics and the Red Raider Club are proud to recognize the Athletics Director’s Circle, an unprecedented group of philanthropic leaders whose commitment is helping position Texas Tech Athletics for continued success in the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics.
The Athletics Director’s Circle represents one of the highest levels of annual philanthropic support to the Red Raider Club. Membership in the Athletics Director’s Circle is recognized through a $1 million commitment to Texas Tech Athletics, with gifts supporting the Red Raider Club’s Matador Fund and providing critical resources that directly impact Texas Tech student-athletes across all 17 varsity programs.
ESPN’s Max Olson: Brendan Sorsby on gambling addiction: ‘A ton of remorse’
Sorsby sat down for a final interview with the production in July after the quarterback parted ways with Texas Tech amid the school’s legal battle with the Big 12 over his eligibility. The series premieres Friday on Paramount+.
“I have a ton of remorse and a ton of regret for the things that I’ve done in the past,” Sorsby said. “Just for my coaches and teammates and those guys, and then all the backlash that we faced — they’re having to face all the scrutiny and backlash as well.”