On Tuesday, Brett Yormark and the Big 12 released the full 2024 football schedule. The conference will look new for a second consecutive year. The conference sees additions (Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado) and subtractions (Oklahoma, Texas) for the 2024 season. The 2023 season for Texas Tech, unfortunately for Red Raider coaches, players, and fans, played out below some loft pre-season expectations. However, the off-season is full of reasons to be hopeful for a successful third season under Joey McGuire. One of those reasons is the Texas Tech football schedule is very manageable for a program looking to take the next step in a new-look Big 12.
Full Texas Tech Football Schedule
In 2024, with an extended season coming to college football as it embarks on a 12-team playoff world, all Big 12 teams will get two bye weeks during the season. Texas Tech’s occur on week seven (October 12th) and week 12 (November 16th).
- Week 1 – Aug 31 vs. Abilene Christian
- Week 2 – Sep 7 at Washington State
- Week 3 – Sep 14 vs. North Texas
- Week 4 – Sep 21 vs. Arizona State
- Week 5 – Sep 28 vs. Cincinnati
- Week 6 – Oct 5 at Arizona
- Week 8 – Oct 19 vs. Baylor
- Week 9 – Oct 26 at TCU
- Week 10 – Nov 2 at Iowa State
- Week 11 – Nov 9 vs. Colorado
- Week 13 – Nov 23 at Oklahoma State
- Week 14- Nov 30 vs. West Virginia
Avoiding Pre-Season Favorites
With how the Texas Tech football schedule shakes out, it boils down to three mini-seasons. A six-game, four-game, and two-game season (possibly a three-game season). And in that stretch, Texas Tech avoids having to play Kyle Whittingham’s Utes and Chris Klieman’s Wildcats (who own an eight-game winning streak against the Red Raiders). In addition to missing two of the favorites to win the conference, Texas Tech plays its first four of five games in Lubbock. They only have to leave the state of Texas only four times all season.
“Toughest” Opponents Draw Is Manageable
At first glance, it appears the two most challenging opponents on the Texas Tech football schedule are road trips to both Arizona and Oklahoma State. Even though Arizona has a new head coach in Brent Brennan after Jedd Fisch took the Washington job, the Wildcats bring back a ton of firepower. Brennan’s first victory came in getting quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan who are one of the best QB/WR duos in the nation. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State has won the last three against the Red Raiders. Texas Tech hasn’t won in Stillwater since 2018. That said, Arizona has to travel to Utah the week before the Red Raiders come to town. Texas Tech has its second bye week before its last road trip of the season to Stillwater.
A Trip To Jerry World Won’t Come Easy
In a wide-open Big 12 with 14 teams, being one of two teams left standing atop the conference will be challenging for all teams. And while the Texas Tech football schedule has some well-timed bye weeks, the final mini-season for the Red Raiders is the toughest two-game stretch they have all season. They will have to square off with teams that each won at least nine games last year. Oklahoma State also has a bye week before Texas Tech comes to Stillwater. West Virginia surprised a lot of people last season, but having a physical Neal Brown Mountaineer team come to Lubbock is no easy final hurdle to clear. It might be premature to be talking plans to Arlington at the end of 2024 for Texas Tech. But if the pieces were to come together, the schedule is the final ingredient that can tie it all together.
