Matchup: Texas Tech vs. Oregon State

Date: September 13th, 2025

Location: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas

Kickoff: 2:30 pm

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Texas Tech football is out scoring its opponents in 2025 129-21. That’s an impressive score differential regardless of opponent. In fact, the Red Raiders scoring margin is easily top ten in the country and first in the Big 12. You can knock the schedule all you want to, but the Red Raiders, through two games, have scored more points than anyone else in the Big 12 by 21 points with the runner up in Lawrence, Kansas who have three games under their belts.

They’ve played who is on their schedule and dominated. 

Unfortunately, or fortunately as the case may be, they won’t be tested much against Oregon State either. I don’t expect the Red Raiders scoring margin to stay at 54 points, or for them to hit 60 points offensively for the third straight game. I also don’t expect Oregon State to be held under the 10.5 point mark with their offense, the Texas Tech’s defensive average through two, but I do expect Texas Tech to beat and cover against the 0-2 Oregon State Beavers. 

The most interesting thing about Week three for Texas Tech is if the starters will get extended into the second half. I’d certainly like to see that, regardless of the score. If the defense sticks to the rotations that will play against Big 12 competition for longer against the Beavers, they could create more of a dam and cause havoc on their ecosystem. On the offensive side, if Behren and the starting offensive line get a full game, could we see Morton double his average production from the first two contests? Something like 450 yards and four or five touchdowns. 

Head coach Joey McGuire has talked about ‘the process’ through the first two weeks, both to the media and to his team. The idea that the opponent doesn’t matter and that his team is working through what they need to work through to get better. So far, we’ve seen exactly that. Continuing that thought there are a few things this team still needs to work on to be prepared for Utah. 

The special teams penalties have to be corrected. Texas Tech lost two returns in week one and another against Kent State last week. On both kickoff and punt the blocking has been penalized. I know that’s a priority for Kenny Perry and the staff. 

Offensively, the short yardage and tough yards have been tough to come by thus far in the season. It’s not a full blown concern for me yet because there’s probably a little more pre snap pizazz you could break out against a better opponent that you haven’t wanted to get into yet. Still, this team should be able to line up any of their offensive linemen and push Kent State back off the line enough to pick up a yard or three. I expect that to be explored against Oregon State. 

I also think you’ll see more targets for Caleb Douglas. He’ll catch a touchdown this week. 

On the defense, this will be the toughest test by far. I wouldn’t say that the Oregon State offense has been explosive, but they have the potential to be. Hankerson at running back and Reddicks at wide receiver complement Maalik Murphy at quarterback, who will certainly provide a stout target for the defensive line to attempt to sack. Murphy will also take more time in the pocket to attempt to create, allowing David Bailey, Romello Height and the gang to attack. 

Murphy is also more dynamic of a passer than the first two opponents, which could lead to some big plays for Oregon State. Though, it could also lead to him attempting some throws he probably shouldn’t. With that in mind, either Brice Pollock or Cole Wisniewski get their first interceptions of 2025 this week. 

I’ll take Texas Tech to win and cover 41-17. For what it’s worth, that’s a snug under with the total opening at 60.5.