RED RAIDERS NOTES:
#17 TEXAS TECH at #16 UTAH
Salt Lake City, Utah | Rice-Eccles Stadium (51,444)
Sept. 20, 2025
FOX | 11 a.m. CT
LUBBOCK, Texas – After beginning the season with three consecutive home victories of 30 or more points, No. 17 Texas Tech will go on the road for the first time, traveling to No. 16 Utah for the first time Saturday in the Big 12 opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT with television coverage provided nationally on FOX as part of its Big Noon Kickoff window. It will be the third time the FOX Big Noon Kickoff show has originated from a game involving the Red Raiders, who will be looking to open Big 12 play with a ranked road victory for only the third time in history.
In addition to the Big Noon pregame show cast on-hand that includes Rob Stone, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram II, Urban Meyer, Matt Leinart, Dave Portnoy and Chris Fallica, the game’s broadcast will feature Gus Johnson providing play-by-play, and Joel Klatt serving as the broadcast analyst, while Jenny Taft will cover the action from the sidelines. The pregame show begins at 9 a.m., followed by the game at 11 a.m. In addition to linear television coverage, fans can also access the game from their mobile or streaming device by using the FOX Sports app.
Texas Tech Sports Network will also broadcast the game over 46 affiliates throughout the state of Texas and New Mexico, as Brian Jensen will have the call alongside analyst John Harris and sideline reporter Chris Level. The radio broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM channel 83, as well as on the Varsity app.
FIRST THREE HOME GAMES SELLOUT; RED RAIDERS RETURN NEXT FOR HOMECOMING VERSUS KANSAS ON OCT. 11
Texas Tech sold out its first three home games to open the 2025 season and rewarded its loyal fan base with a 3-0 start to the season to close its homestand.
Texas Tech has four home games remaining this season with its next upcoming date versus Kansas on Oct. 11 following two road games and an open date. Texas Tech has already announced it has sold the primary ticket inventory for the Oct. 25 contest versus Oklahoma State, leaving three games remaining with single-game ticket options.
Select single-game tickets remain available for Kansas (Oct. 11), BYU (Nov. 8), and UCF (Nov. 15).
Tickets can be purchased online at TexasTech.com or by speaking to a ticket sales representative at 806-742-TECH.
Fans are encouraged to visit SeatGeek for tickets for games that the Texas Tech Athletics Department has previously announced as a sellout.
Texas Tech sold out of season tickets for the third consecutive season in early May as Red Raider fans purchased more than 33,000 season passes for the 2025 campaign.
TEXAS TECH OFF TO QUICK 3-0 START
Texas Tech breezed through non-conference play, outscoring its opponents 174-35 en route to blowout wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kent State and Oregon State.
The Red Raiders have the largest point differential (139) in the country through the first three weeks of the season, topping both Indiana (133) and Oregon (132).
Texas Tech’s 35 points allowed have all come late in the three victories as the Red Raiders have outscored their opponents by a combined 123-0 in the first half and then 154-0 over the first three quarters.
MORTON AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
Behren Morton continues to showcase why he’s one of the country’s underrated quarterbacks this season as the senior has combined for 923 passing yards and 11 touchdowns (and one interception) on 57-of-81 passing (70.4 percent) in only six-and-a-half quarters of game play.
Morton, who is coming off a career-high 464 passing yards against Oregon State, shares the FBS lead with 11 touchdowns this season despite departing midway through the second quarter against UAPB, at halftime versus Kent State and following the third quarter this past weekend.
RED RAIDERS IN THE POLLS
Texas Tech moved to No. 16 in the AFCA coaches poll this week and No. 17 in the Associated Press rankings following its 45-14 victory over Oregon State. The Red Raiders have been ranked inside the top 25 of both major polls every week thus far this season.
The Red Raiders entered the 2025 season ranked inside the top 25 of both major polls for the first time since 2008 as the Red Raiders were No. 23 in the Associated Press poll and No. 24 in the AFCA coaches poll. Texas Tech was previously ranked No. 24 in the 2023 AFCA preseason poll before falling out after a season-opening loss at Wyoming.
It was the first time the Red Raiders had appeared in the Associated Press poll since Sept. 23, 2018, when Texas Tech was No. 24 nationally after starting its season 3-1 overall with wins over Lamar, Houston, and at No. 15 Oklahoma State and the lone loss coming in the opener to Ole Miss.
RED RAIDERS IN TOP-25 MATCHUPS
Texas Tech is a combined 5-11 in top-25 matchups during Big 12 play over its tenure in the league. That record includes a 2-9 mark in road games as Texas Tech’s lone wins came at No. 21 TCU midway through the 2012 season and at No. 19 Kansas during its memorable 2008 campaign. A victory over Utah would mark Texas Tech’s highest-ranked win in a top-25 battle between Big 12 teams in its history.
This will be the first time Texas Tech has ever opened Big 12 play in a battle of teams ranked in the Associated Press top-25 poll. The Red Raiders have begun league play as unranked, facing a top-25 team a total of 13 times in their history.
Texas Tech will be involved in a top-25 matchup for the first time since Nov. 2, 2013, when the Red Raiders, ranked as high as No. 10 in the Associated Press poll, fell to No. 12 Oklahoma State, 52-34, at home.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
0: Texas Tech has not allowed a single point this season through the first three quarters, primarily when its starters have been on the field.
3: Texas Tech is the only team in the country with at least three receivers who have caught three or more touchdowns this season in Coy Eakin, Reggie Virgil and Terrance Carter Jr.
7: Behren Morton has thrown for multiple touchdown passes in each of his last seven games, which is tied for the longest active streak in the FBS.
74: Pro Football Focus has credited Texas Tech with 74 total pressures created through the first two games with 30 of those coming from David Bailey and Romello Height combined
174: Texas Tech leads the FBS in scoring offense with 174 points this season (58.0 per game), which marks its third-highest total through three games in school history.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will only be the third meeting all-time between the Red Raiders and Utes and their first as Big 12 Conference members. Utah was previously Texas Tech’s season-opening opponent to start the 1972-73 campaigns as the Red Raiders delivered a 45-2 rout in 1972, followed by a 29-22 victory a year later with both matchups taking place in Lubbock.
Texas Tech will make its first-ever visit to Rice-Eccels Stadium in Salt Lake City and only its second ot the state of Utah for a football game. The Red Raiders previously visited the Beehive State in 2023 to face BYU. Utah will make a return trip to Jones AT&T Stadium during the 2027 season as part of the Big 12 Conference’s four-year scheduling matrix.
TEXAS TECH-OREGON STATE CONNECTIONS
Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck will be looking to beat a Red Raider defense this weekend that is led by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. Beck has plenty of experience in watching Rodriguez on the field, albeit in a different position as Rodriguez was previously a quarterback for Beck at Virginia in 2021. Beck was the quarterbacks coach for Virginia during Rodriguez’ true freshman season where he played in 12 games at an assortment of positions, including quarterback. Rodriguez was recruited to Virginia as a quarterback prior to transferring to Texas Tech in 2022 and moving to the defensive side of the ball in the process.
Texas Tech offensive line coach Clay McGuire will also recognize one person on the opposite sideline this weekend in Utah running backs coach Mark Atuaia. The two were previously on staff together at Washington State in 2022 with Atuaia as the associate head coach and running backs coach and McGuire in his role overseeing the offensive line.
UTES GAME NOTE:
THE GAME The 16th-ranked Utah football team opens Big 12 Conference play vs. No. 17 Texas Tech with a 10 a.m. MT kickoff on Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes (3-0) and Red Raiders (3-0) will meet for the third time in history and first time since 1973. FOLLOW ALONG Fans can get behind the scenes views and live updates on social media and online at www.UtahUtes.com throughout the 2025 season. The Utes are active on Twitter (@ Utah_Football), Instagram (@UtahFootball), Facebook (search Utah Football) and TikTok (@ Utah_Football). THE NUMBERS • Utah continues to ascend in the polls, moving up to No. 16 in the Associated Press poll and No. 18 in the Coaches Poll for Week 4. • The Utes are eighth in the FBS in scoring defense (8.3 ppg) and 14th in the country in scoring offense (45.7 ppg). • Utah’s defense has allowed just two touchdowns and 25 points through three games, while the offense has tallied 19 touchdowns and scored 137 points for a point differential of +112. • Saturday will be the first matchup between Utah and Texas Tech since the two teams played in back-to-back years, 1972-73, both Red Raider wins in Lubbock. UTAH FOOTBALL: NEED TO KNOWS • Utah has topped 200 rushing yards in all three games to start the season, the first time since 2019 they have surpassed 200 yards on the ground in three consecutive matchups. The 311 rushing yards at Wyoming last Saturday were a season-high and marked the first time since Nov. 4, 2023 that Utah rushed for 300-plus yards. • The Utes’ offense ranks second in the country in 3rd down conversion percentage, converting on 71 percent of opportunities through the first three weeks of the season. Utah is seventh in the country in first downs offense, totaling 85 first downs in three games. • Devon Dampier is second in the Big 12 Conference and 12th in the FBS in completion percentage at 73 percent. • Utah’s defense ranks 12th in the country and third in the Big 12 in passes intercepted (4), while Jackson Bennee leads the conference with two picks, one shy of five players tied for the national lead with three.
THE UTAH MAN Head coach Kyle Whittingham is in his 21st year at the helm as the longest-tenured coach in the Big 12 and the second-longest tenured coach at the same school in the NCAA FBS. He is 170-86 overall at Utah, becoming the all-time wins leader at Utah in 2021. He passed Ike Armstrong (141-55-15 in 211 games) with Utah’s historic win over No. 3 Oregon on Nov. 20, 2021 in Rice-Eccles Stadium. He has coached in 382 games at Utah (11 seasons as an assistant) and 256 as the head coach. • He has contributed to more victories than any coach in program history (255), including his 11 seasons as an assistant coach (1994-2004). • Whittingham is tied among active Big 12 head coaches for the most career victories at the FBS level (170), while tying for fourth among all active FBS head coaches and third among head coaches at the same school. • Whittingham has coached the Utes to three conference titles (2008, MWC; 2021, Pac-12; 2022, Pac-12). The Utes also won at least a share of the Pac-12 South four times (2015 – shared, 2018, 2019, 2021). • He has won three National Coach of the Year recognitions: AFCA Coach of the Year and Bear Bryant Award winner in 2008, and the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year in 2019. • Whittingham has been named conference coach of the year three times in his career (2008, MWC; 2019, Pac-12; 2021, Pac-12). • He has had 35 players make All-America teams, including 17 that have made major All America teams (those determining NCAA’s consensus team) with 10 earning consensus or unanimous.
HOME SWEET HOME Utah is 121-41 (.747) in Rice-Eccles Stadium (1998-present) and is 93-30 in RES during the Kyle Whittingham era. • Utah has five undefeated home seasons under Whittingham (2022, 6-0; 2021, 6-0; 2019, 7-0; 2009, 6-0; 2008, 6-0) with the Utes winning 33 of their last 39 home games, which included a streak of 18 in a row from Dec. 5, 2020 – Oct. 14, 2023. • It was the second-longest streak in the Whittingham era with the longest streak taking place Sept. 15, 2007 – Oct. 23, 2010 (21 games). • Utah has sold out Rice-Eccles Stadium in 90 consecutive games, dating back to the 2010 season opener.
WINNING PROGRAM • Since 2003, Utah has piled up nine 10-win seasons; 10-2 in 2003, 12-0 in 2004, 13-0 in 2008, 10-3 in 2009, 10-3 in 2010, 10-3 in 2015, 11-3 in 2019 and 10-4 in both 2021 and 2022. • The Utes have 10 finishes in the AP Top 25 poll since 2003: No. 21 in 2003, No. 4 in 2004, No. 2 in 2008, No. 18 in 2009, No. 21 in 2014, No. 17 in 2015, No. 23 in 2016, No. 16 in 2019, No. 12 in 2021 and No. 7 in 2022. Utah was also ranked No. 23 in the final 2010 Coaches Poll. BOWL ROLL • Utah has made 19 bowl appearances since 2000 with a 13-6 record. The Utes made nine straight bowls from 2003- 11 and 10 consecutive from 2014-23. • The Utes have punched four appearances to what is now the College Football Playoff New Year’s Six, defeating Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl and Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, also reaching the 2022 and ‘23 Rose Bowl. • Utah won nine consecutive bowl games from 1999-2009 to tie for the second-longest bowl win streak in NCAA history. • In the Mountain West Conference at the time, five of Utah’s nine consecutive bowl wins were against Power Conference teams: Alabama, California, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh and USC. • Utah is 17-9 all-time in bowl games.
NEW ARM IN TOWN Utah’s offense has a new look with quarterback Devon Dampier at the helm, and it did not take long for QB1 to make an impact as a Utah Ute. • Dampier went off in the season opener at UCLA, completing 21-of-25 passes to eight different receivers for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing for 87 yards and a score on 16 carries. • His 84.0% completion rate in Week 1 was the fifth highest among FBS QBs and tied for the fourth-best in Utah single-game history. • He became the first Utah signal caller since 2023 to lead the team in passing and rushing yards. • Dampier followed up his historic debut by connecting 17-of-23 passes for 192 yards and matched his career high with three TDs through the air. • His 79.2% completion rate entering Week 3 leads the Big 12 and ranks second nationally among qualified QBs. • He is also one of 13 FBS QBs with 390-plus passing yards and 100-plus rushing yards so far this season and one of 19 QBs with five-plus passing touchdowns and no interceptions. • Dampier, who was named the Big 12’s Preseason Newcomer of the Year, entered the season with a streak of four straight games with at least 150 passing yards and 100 rushing yards, the longest stretch by any FBS player since Louisville’s Lamar Jackson in 2017 (7). • Dampier became the first UNM quarterback to ever earn All-Mountain West First Team honors in 2024. He led the conference in total offense by piling up 3,934 yards, including 2,768 passing yards, the league’s second highest total. • He was just the fifth QB since 2016 with at least 2,500 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season, joining Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels. • A true dual threat at the quarterback position, Dampier rushed for 1, 166 yards which ranked third in the MWC. He finished second in the league with 19 touchdowns and averaged a conference-best 7.52 yards per carry. • Dampier was the first Lobo QB to ever eclipse 1,000 yards rushing and he rushed for 100 yards in a game six times in 2024.
