Stephen F. Austin @ Texas Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2013 ) Stephen F. Austin 13, Texas Tech 61

A different offseason has quarterback Patrick Mahomes II ready for even bigger numbers at Texas Tech, which opens the season Saturday against FCS opponent Stephen F. Austin. Mahomes gave up baseball - which he played the previous spring - to concentrate on football.

"I really saw his leadership qualities emerge, and his physique has changed," Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. "He has never been through offseason workouts like that, and overall, I would say he is a better quarterback." Mahomes led the Big 12 Conference with 4,653 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns and 5,109 total yards while the Red Raiders averaged a school-record 45.1 points. Texas Tech has won 13 straight season openers, the longest active streak in the Big 12. The Lumberjacks, who are 0-9 against current members of the Big 12, return starting quarterback Zach Conque and plenty of options on offense.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN. LINE: None

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (2015: 4-7): Conque (1,933 passing yards, 16 TDs, eight INTs) ran for 11 scores and ranked third on the team in rushing yards (554) behind returners Loren Easly (759 yards, four TDs) and Joshawa West (617, one). The Lumberjacks' top five receivers return - led by Aaron Piper (44 catches, 439 yards, five TDs) - after an injury-plagued 2015 season. Returning defensive ends Kedrick Harrison, Jamal Allen and John Franklin - who combined for 14 sacks last year - and an experienced secondary anchor the defense.


ABOUT TEXAS TECH (2015: 7-6): Returning receivers Devin Lauderdale (639 yards, four TDs), Ian Sadler (596, three) and Reginald Davis III (536, eight), as well as running back Justin Stockton (341, six), give Mahomes plenty of targets. Transfers Ondre Pipkins (nose tackle, Michigan), Kolin Hill (linebacker, Notre Dame) and Luke Stice (linebacker, Houston) should strengthen a defense that forced 25 turnovers but allowed 43.6 points and 547.7 yards last year. Safety Jah'Shawn Johnson (four fumble recoveries, 85 tackles), defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko and linebacker D'Vonta Hinton - all sophomores - also bring experience across the defense.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Red Raiders are 19-1 against FCS opponents, winning each of the last 15 meetings.

2. Texas Tech is the only team in a power-five conference to score at least 25 points in all 13 games last year. Its streak of 16 straight such contests is the country's longest active streak.

3. The Red Raiders beat Stephen F. Austin 61-13 in Kingsbury's 2013 home debut.

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 65, Stephen F. Austin 13