Weber State @ Texas Tech preview
Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field
At times under former coach Mike Leach, Texas Tech was among national title and Big 12 championship contenders. Now, in Tommy Tuberville’s first season, the Red Raiders are simply hoping to make a bowl game for the 11th consecutive year.
Texas Tech (5-5, 3-5 Big 12) can become bowl eligible Saturday when it hosts FCS opponent Weber State (6-4, 5-3 Big Sky). It will be the first meeting between the schools, and Weber State’s first time facing a Big 12 school.
The Red Raiders are coming off a 45-7 defeat to Oklahoma last week.
Texas Tech couldn’t get anything going on offense or defense. Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones looked like a Heisman Trophy candidate against the Tech defense, throwing for five touchdowns.
On top of that, the Red Raiders allowed 562 total yards, 5-of-15 third-down conversions and 26 first downs. However, the most troublesome area for Tech was giving up the big play, as the Sooners scored on plays of 59, 29, 29 and 18 yards.
The lone bright spot for Texas Tech was having three players finish with double-digit tackles, including Brian Duncan (13), Tre’ Porter (10) and Bront Bird (10). Also, the Red Raiders might get defensive back Will Ford back after he missed the last five games with a lingering hamstring injury. Ford is listed as questionable.
Offensively, Texas Tech didn’t fare much better against the Sooners. The Red Raiders’ lone touchdown came out of the Wildcat formation, when receiver Detron Lewis found Darrin Moore on a 3-yard scoring strike.
Texas Tech had success running the ball, gaining 182 yards on 38 carries, with Baron Batch and Eric Stephens leading the ground game. Batch had 91 yards on 11 carries and Stephens added 40 yards on 11 carries.
But Texas Tech had to play catch-up all day long. And quarterback Taylor Potts did not have a good day, completing only 18 of 35 passes for 136 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
Weber State, meanwhile, will be facing a FBS school for the second time this season. The Wildcats opened the season with a 38-20 loss at Boston College.
With that loss, Weber State fell to 3-43 against FBS schools. The Wildcats haven’t beaten an FBS school since a 47-30 victory over Nevada in 1993.
Currently, though, Weber State has won four of its past five games, including a 27-26 victory over Northern Arizona last week.
Weber State senior quarterback Cameron Higgins became the Big Sky conference leader in touchdown passes after he connected with senior wide receiver Joe Collins on a 64-yard touchdown pass on the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage.
Finally, it’s worth noting, Weber State is the first FCS school that Texas Tech will play. Therefore, a win will give the Red Raiders bowl eligibility. FBS teams can only count one FCS victory toward bowl eligibility.