No. 8 Red Raiders look to stay unbeaten at Cincinnati

No. 8 Texas Tech (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) will kick off the second half of its 2026 schedule Saturday with its first trip to Nippert Stadium to face Cincinnati (4-2, 1-2 Big 12) at 11 a.m. CT on FS1. It will be the second meeting between the two programs as Big 12 foes and the third overall, with both previous meetings taking place in Lubbock in 1968 and 2024. Texas Tech will look to extend its four-game road winning streak on Saturday while remaining one of the nation’s six undefeated teams. The Red Raiders will also aim for their fifth 7-0 start in program history, and first since 2013.

The television broadcast will feature Jeff Kizer on play-by-play and analyst Mark Helfrich in the booth. Fans can also stream the game on their mobile devices or televisions through the FOX Sports app.

Texas Tech Sports Network will broadcast the game across more than 20 affiliates throughout Texas and New Mexico, with Brian Jensen providing the call alongside analyst John Harris and sideline reporter Chris Level. The radio broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM channel 83 and the Varsity app.

THIS WEEK IN THE POLLS

Texas Tech heads to Cincinnati ranked in the top 10 of both polls for the second-straight week after the Red Raiders moved up Sunday to No. 5 in the U.S. LBM coaches poll and then two spots to No. 8 in the Associated Press poll.
This is the 25th consecutive week the Red Raiders have appeared in the Associated Press poll, the longest run in program history. The Red Raiders previously appeared in the Associated Press poll over 20 straight weeks during the course of the 2004-06 seasons. Texas Tech rose to as high as No. 10 during that stretch.

WHERE THE 6-0 START RANKS

Texas Tech is off to a 6-0 start for a second consecutive season following its 53-25 rout over Arizona State last weekend. It marks the first time in program history the Red Raiders have started a season 6-0 in consecutive years. Texas Tech will secure its fifth 7-0 start in its history with a win over Cincinnati this weekend.
The Red Raiders are one of three teams to start 6-0 in each of the past two seasons, joining only BYU and Indiana. BYU won its first eight games a year ago before falling to the Red Raiders in Lubbock with College Gameday in town. Indiana, meanwhile, finished a perfect 16-0 en route to its first College Football Playoff National Championship.
It was the seventh game of the season that halted Texas Tech’s successful start a year ago. Similarly to this weekend, the Red Raiders went on the road in Big 12 play, traveling to an Arizona State program that was coming off a Big 12 title the previous season. The Sun Devils rallied in the final two minutes for a 26-22 victory in Tempe, handing the Red Raiders what would be their only regular-season loss.

ANOTHER STRONG START TO BIG 12 PLAY

Texas Tech will be searching for only its fourth 4-0 start to conference play Saturday when the Red Raiders travel to Cincinnati. Texas Tech previously began its Big 12 slate with four consecutive victories in both 2008 and 2013, finishing with at least eight wins in each of those two seasons. The Red Raiders also had a 5-0 start in the Southwest Conference in 1976, eventually ending that year with a share of the league title and a 10-2 overall record.
Texas Tech secured its third 3-0 start to Big 12 play in as many years this past Saturday with its 53-25 victory over Arizona State. It marked the seventh time since joining the Big 12 in 1996 that the Red Raiders opened league play with three consecutive victories. Dating back to joining the Southwest Conference in 1960, this is the ninth time Texas Tech has started conference play 3-0, following starts in 1976 and 1983 and seven times in the Big 12 era: 1998, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2024, 2025 and 2026.

TAKE THREE DEFENSE CREATING TAKEAWAYS

Joey McGuire preaches a ‘take three’ mantra each week, which has paid dividends as the Red Raiders again rank among the most opportunistic defenses nationally in creating takeaways.
Texas Tech has forced 12 turnovers this season, which ranks tied for 14th in the FBS entering this weekend. The Red Raiders have turned four of those into defensive touchdowns as all three linebackers have found the end zone via pick-sixes so far this season.
Texas Tech is tied with Alabama for the most defensive touchdowns in the FBS this season.

OFFENSE FINDS ITS STRIDE VERSUS SUN DEVILS

Joey McGuire discussed for weeks the importance of a clean start. He got just that in the Red Raiders’ win over Arizona State as Texas Tech combined for 404 yards of total offense in the first half, its most since Patrick Mahomes II’s final game as a Red Raider in the 2016 regular-season finale versus Baylor.
Texas Tech scored 43 first-half points en route to a 53-25 victory, marking the 22nd consecutive Big 12 game the Red Raiders have recorded at least 22 points, which is tied for the third-longest streak in league history.

INSIDE THE CINCINNATI SERIES

Texas Tech and Cincinnati will meet for the third time in program history Saturday. The teams tied 10-10 in their 1968 season opener before the Red Raiders won 44-41 in their first Big 12 meeting in 2024.
Texas Tech led for the duration of the 1968 game thanks to a two-yard touchdown run from quarterback Joe Mautlich early in the first quarter. Cincinnati tied the game, however, in the closing minutes on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Greg Cook to Jim O’Brien. The Red Raiders had previously led 10-3 to that point after a Kenny Vinyard 23-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Tahj Brooks rushed for 172 yards to help Texas Tech overcome an early 14-3 deficit and hold off a potential Cincinnati game-tying field goal as time expired for a 44-41 victory in the 2024 matchup. Coy Eakin also caught a pair of touchdowns, while the defense forced a pair of second-half takeaways, including a pick-six interception by A.J. McCarty to start the fourth quarter. The win improved the Red Raiders to 4-1 early in that season.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LAST MATCHUP IN 2024

On Sept. 28, 2024, Texas Tech edged Cincinnati, 44-41, at Galaxy Stadium in a back-and-forth shootout. It was one of Joey McGuire’s five double-digit come-from-behind wins in his career as the Red Raiders’ head coach, as Texas Tech trailed the Bearcats by as much as 11 in the first quarter, 14-3.
Tahj Brooks rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, scoring the tying touchdown late in the first half before adding the go-ahead score early in the second half.
Behren Morton threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Coy Eakin on both scoring passes. Eakin finished with 78 receiving yards on three catches.
A.J. McCarty returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, giving Texas Tech a 41-27 lead after Jacob Rodriguez recovered a Cincinnati fumble to set up Brooks’ second touchdown.
Texas Tech held on for the victory when Cincinnati missed a 51-yard field goal on the final play. Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby threw for 426 yards and four touchdowns, but his late rally fell short.

Release provided by MATT BURKHOLDER Texas Tech Athletics