Has Oklahoma State found a new rival? Some say so. Before we dive into whether the Red Raiders can fill the Sooner-level void, let’s take a look at the history between the schools and what to expect from Texas Tech in 2024.
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Week 13: Texas Tech | November 23 | Stillwater
Series History: 24-23-3
The Cowboys have been on a roll over the past decade, winning eight of their last 10 games against the Red Raiders and 13 of their last 15. Mike Gundy is 14-4 against Tech.
Last matchup: OSU 41, Texas Tech 31
The Cowboys have won three straight games against the Red Raiders, most recently two seasons ago. Spencer Sanders passed for just under 300 yards, one touchdown and two rushing attempts, and he also had some highlight-time chemistry with his receivers. OSU took a lead in the fourth quarter despite being outplayed in the rushing and passing games. The Cowboys started 5-0, but were dropped a notch by TCU, and OSU has since fallen to 2-6.
Tech in 2023: Tech won two bowl championships in his first two years under coach Joey Maguire, with the Raiders going 8-5 in 2022 and 7-6 in 2023, including a win over Cal in the Independence Bowl.
Tech 2024: Despite a lot of roster turnover, Tech has several returning offensive leaders who should have opportunities this fall. All-Big 12 running back Taj Brooks returns after being second only to Ollie Gordon in rushing yards last season. Quarterback Beren Morton is also in his fourth year with the program and could have a big year this season.
But if you’ve read this before, stop right here: A lot will depend on Tech’s retooled O-line and how quickly it comes together.
Like many other teams in the conference and country, Tech has seen a number of players come and go through the portal, especially up front. The Red Raiders have four potential starting linemen, and McGuire also hired former Washington State offensive line coach Clay McGuire to help bring the unit together (no relation to Joey McGuire, who is in his third stint at Tech and played OL at Lubbock).
Fellow Washington State wide receiver Josh Kelley should also bolster the passing game, as should freshman Micah Hudson, who is considered a five-star prospect. The Red Raiders have plenty of firepower up front if they can get things going.
WATCH: QB1 reunion
This will be Alan Bowman’s first time facing his former team since transferring to Michigan ahead of the 2021 season. Bowman was a highly-regarded star at Tech from 2018-2020, but injuries hindered his tenure as the Red Raiders’ quarterback.
Apparently, OSU and Tech are rivals.
That new video game that everyone is crazy about is making OSU and Texas Tech even more of a rivalry. Honestly, I don’t know how to feel about it. It’s fun to mock the Red Raiders for their mascot, their gestures, and now their uniforms. And the vitriol is spilling over into other sports, like with Marcus Smart and a fan in 2014.
But the collapse and realignment of power conferences and the subsequent disappearance of regional rivalries makes one wonder how strong these replacement rivalries will actually be. It’s one of the inevitable consequences of capitalist football, and I can understand why it happens. But it does take away some of the veneer of college football nostalgia. If Tech has to be OSU’s de facto rival, at least the two schools have a lot of history together.
