Matador Report

Will Hammond just played what may be the best half of football of his Texas Tech career against Arizona State. If that’s the quarterback the Red Raiders get the rest of the way, is Texas Tech losing a gameAaron Dickens and Chris Level break down why the next month of opposing defenses looks very different from the ones Hammond saw early in the season, and why Cincinnati’s pass defense, which has allowed 275-plus yards t...

Texas Tech heads to Cincinnati on Saturday for an 11 a.m. kickoff. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level preview a Bearcats team that’s lost back-to-back games but is built on a strong offensive line and ground game. They break down how that matchup runs into Texas Tech’s front seven, why Cincinnati’s defense has been among the Big 12’s worst at giving up explosive plays and third-down stops, and what the Red Raider...

Texas Tech moves to 6-0 and 3-0 in the Big 12 with a blowout of Arizona State, leading 43-10 at the half. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down the fast start, from the 4th and 1 gamble on the opening drive and Will Hammond’s push to convert, to J'Koby Williams’ big runs, Kenny Johnson’s great day and a pick-six that changed the game. They also credit the offensive line and Mack Leftwich’s playcalling, an...

Joel Klatt says Oklahoma State has a better chance than Texas Tech to make the College Football Playoff. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level push back, breaking down why the Cowboys are getting extra credit for the Oregon win (and overlooking the 335 rushing yards allowed to West Virginia), and why Texas Tech’s second-half performance looks a lot like last year’s despite the grind. Then it’s on to Saturday’s game ...

The bye week is over, and Texas Tech returns to face the Arizona State team that handed the Red Raiders their only Big 12 loss in the last season and a half. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level preview Saturday’s game, including why Joey McGuire says Tech was out-coached last time, what to expect from Kenny Dillingham’s Sun Devils, and why Will Hammond’s comfort level matters more than anything else on offense. They al...

Texas Tech is 5-0 heading into the bye week, but is the national conversation giving the Red Raiders enough credit? Aaron Dickens and Chris Level make the case that Texas Tech's resume is underrated, with a win over a ranked team and two double-digit road wins, and that the team is being unevenly punished for not being as dominant as last year. They also dig into the "second-half team" trend, with Texas Tech outscoring opponents 68...

Texas Tech handles a sloppy Colorado team on the road, covers and heads into the bye week at 5-0. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down a dominant defensive performance and a four-takeaway night, why the offense is still a big question mark, and how Friday's Thomas Castellanos news and Cam Dickey's high ankle sprain changed the game plan.

Plus: the wild story of a 25-page Colorado playbook found at the ...

Reports suggest the College Football Playoff could expand to 24 teams as soon as next year — and Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down what that would actually mean for Texas Tech. They discuss how a bigger field changes the margin for error, why realignment could rear its head again if the pending college sports bill doesn't pass, and which ACC programs the Big 12 should be eyeing if the conference landscape shifts again.

Texas Tech heads to Boulder to face a Colorado team that's struggling to find any rhythm on offense. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down why this matchup feels different from Texas Tech's other tests this season, what's gone wrong for the Buffaloes under Deion Sanders, and why a win alone might not be enough — Texas Tech needs to actually look good doing it.

Plus: a look at the UCF-Houston jersey drama, and whether the B...

Texas Tech gets past Sam Houston State, but Aaron Dickens and Chris Level explain why it was uglier than it needed to be — a close game at the half against an outmatched opponent, and four games into the season, still no complete performance to point to. They break down what went wrong, what still has them encouraged despite the sloppiness, and what needs to change fast with a trip to Colorado on deck.

Plus: a look around the...

Can the Big 12 actually get two teams into the College Football Playoff? Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down the conference's reputation problem, why Texas Tech's path likely still runs through winning in Arlington, and which teams — Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Kansas State, and others — could climb the rankings and help the league's case down the stretch.

Plus: why power rankings are mostly meaningless noise, a...

Texas Tech is a 35-point favorite over Sam Houston State this weekend, but Aaron Dickens and Chris Level explain why that spread might be misleading. They break down why the Bearkats are one of the most underrated teams in the country against the spread, why their pass-heavy attack could actually find some yards and where Texas Tech should have distinct advantages.

Plus: Oregon State is for real, the Cash Cleveland breakout game th...

Texas Tech survives a wild 28-26 win over Houston at a sold-out Galaxy Stadium, and Aaron Dickens and Chris Level believe something finally clicked for the Red Raiders. They break down their theory that Thomas Castellanos starting fueled Will Hammond's best performance of the season, why they think this Houston team may be even better than last year's BYU squad, and the receivers, running backs, and defensive players who stepped up...

Texas Tech is a trendy upset candidate heading into Friday night's showdown with Houston, and Aaron Dickens and Chris Level explain why the stakes are enormous either way. They break down why this matchup could come down to special teams and what to expect from Will Hammond and the offense against a Houston defense that blitzes heavily.

Plus: the latest injury and availability news for Trey White, Terrence Carter, and Brendan Jorda...

Texas Tech needs more from Will Hammond heading into Houston — and it's not what you'd expect. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down the shift in mentality from "protect the ball, take the safe play" to needing Hammond to push the ball downfield and take chances.

Plus: Joey McGuire's comments calling Houston "the best team we've played in two years," a look around the rest of the Big 12 through two weeks and some odd press...

Texas Tech survives at Oregon State, but Aaron Dickens and Chris Level aren't convinced this team has figured out who it is yet. They break down a concerning lack of pass rush from the defensive front, an offense still searching for an identity, and a string of costly self-inflicted penalties that nearly turned a win into a disaster.

Plus: Thoughts on Will Hammond's game, more Thomas Castellanos usage and what needs to change fast ...

Texas Tech hits the road again, this time to Corvallis to face Oregon State — a team that lit up Houston through the air in Week 1. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down what has them concerned about the Beavers' passing attack, whether Tech's defensive front can force Oregon State into a one-dimensional game plan, and what a rainy Saturday forecast could mean for both offenses.

Plus: a look at the rest of the Big 12's mar...

Joey McGuire addresses Texas Tech's offensive struggles from Week 1, admitting the team needs to take more shots downfield and revealing plans to get Thomas Castellanos more involved once the offense reaches the red zone. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level also break down the Big 12's decision to quietly withdraw its federal lawsuit against Texas Tech.

Plus: a look ahead to Saturday's matchup with Oregon State,...

Texas Tech grinds out a 33-10 win over Abilene Christian with a flat performance that leaves plenty to nitpick. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down the same red zone issues and special teams breakdowns that plagued the Red Raiders last season and Will Hammond's performance (and the pick that flipped the game's momentum).

Plus: The postgame admission that the offensive game plan was intentionally vanilla and FS1's Godwin's Law ...