Texas Tech Football Completes Non-Conference Schedule Through 2027
College football scheduling must be an exhausting and arduous process. The Red Raiders have had "anticipated" matchups on the schedule for years with Oregon and Mississippi State, and the Oregon game is still four football seasons away.
Could Texas Tech have its rematch with Mike Leach and Mississippi State? Will college football even exist when the scheduled game comes up in 2028? Will Mike Leach even last three seasons in Starkville? Will the Big 12 make it past 2024?
These are all questions I contemplate when I see announcements like this one from Texas Tech football, which has announced a series with Fresno State taking place in 2029, 2030 and 2032.
2032! What will the world even look like in that future time? Will there be flying cars and sentient robots? Will there even be tackling anymore, or will the game have morphed into a glorified 7-on-7 tournament with two-touch rules being applied below the waist?
Who knows.
What we do know is that when Tarleton Football visits Texas Tech in 2023, it will be their first FBS opponent ever. Good to know the Red Raiders will be at least 1-0 in 2023. (Feel free to dig this up, if the internet still exists then, and quote me if Tarleton wins.)
With the announcement of the Tarleton game, Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt can now take the next seven years off of one of his duties. He doesn't need to schedule anymore football games until 2028.
If things stay how they are (they likely won't) and the Big 12 stays at 10 teams, then the three non-conference teams scheduled for the next eight seasons have been locked in.
2020
@ UTEP, Alabama State, Arizona.
2021
FIU, Stephen F. Austin, @ Houston.
2022
Murray State, Houston, @ NC State.
2023
@ Wyoming, Tarleton State, Oregon.
2024
ACU, @ Oregon, North Texas.
2025
Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Oregon State, @ Colorado State.
2026
ACU, @ Oregon State, Colorado State.
2027
Arkansas Pine-Bluff, @ North Texas, NC State.
Now, it's easy to look at these non-conferences games and scoff at the talent level of the scheduled opponents. To that I say, sweep off your own porch before you start talking about somebody else's curb appeal.
I also say, any of these power five schools could be good by the time you play them, and the schools like Houston, Colorado State and North Texas can have upswings like anyone else.
The caveat to all this schedule talk is that the Big 12 is in a precarious situation with their media rights deals on the horizon. If the conference expands, will Texas Tech need to scramble for extra games? The SEC only plays eight conference opponents and has four non-conference games. Or will Texas Tech find themselves in a conference with Colorado State or Oregon State by the year 2025?
The only thing for certain is that, for now, Texas Tech's football schedule is scribbled in pencil until 2027.