Nate Night Thoughts: Texas Tech is still learning how to win

Texas Tech football might be one of the most frustrating teams in all of college football. The offense can keep up with anyone in the nation regardless of who the quarterback is. The defense is much better than previous years and has enough talent to compete with the rest of the Big 12. With all of this being said, this team can’t figure out how to beat conference teams on a consistent basis.

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Since Kliff Kingsbury has been the head coach, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are 17-30 in Big 12 play. Tech has nearly lost twice the amount of Big 12 games than they have won since 2013. On top of that, this program has not had a winning record in conference since 2009. As hard as everyone is on Tech, Kliff inherited a program that was in the dumps and it’s taking much longer than expected to turn the Red Raiders into a winner again.

The win over Oklahoma State in Stillwater was a tremendous step in the right direction. Texas Tech has rarely beaten anyone they weren’t supposed to in recent memory and winning a game as a 14-point underdog gives us hope for the future. While it’s disappointing to follow up a big win with a loss at home, West Virginia may win the Big 12 this year. This is a game Tech was expected to lose, but they did show fight until the bitter end. At the beginning of the season if you told me we would be 1-1 in conference after playing Oklahoma State and West Virginia, I would have taken it every time.

The game against TCU will be another test for the Red Raiders. TCU is a winnable game for Texas Tech after the Frogs struggled with a disappointing Iowa State team. If the Red Raiders can get back on track after a bye week and take down the Horned Frogs, then look for the Red Raiders to string a few wins in a row. After TCU, Tech faces Kansas at home and then travels to Aimes to face the Cyclones. Both of those teams are 0-2 in conference and are both trending towards the bottom of the Big 12.

This is shaping up to be a turning point for Kliff and the Red Raiders, and TCU will be another key game for the team moving forward. With a win against the Horned Frogs, Texas Tech could be 6-2 heading into a showdown with the Sooners when they travel to Lubbock on November 3rd.

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