No. 22 Arizona heads into Lubbock with a real shot at keeping its Big 12 title path alive, but the margin for error is razor-thin.
The Wildcats, 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, face No. 13 Texas Tech on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Galaxy Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 9 a.m. on ESPN. Both teams are tied for second in the Big 12, so the stakes are built right into the matchup: the loser takes a major hit in the race for the conference title game.
Arizona arrives riding a five-game winning streak, and the offense has been rolling during that stretch. The Wildcats have been winning by nearly 24 points per game, powered by Noah Fifita’s efficiency - 18 touchdowns against just four interceptions.
Texas Tech comes in with something to prove after suffering its first loss of the season, a 37-24 road defeat to Cincinnati. That same Cincinnati team was handled by Arizona earlier this month, when the Wildcats rolled to a 34-7 win in Tucson.
The obvious chess match sits on the Texas Tech side of the ball. The Red Raiders have built their defensive edge on turnovers, leading the nation with five pick-sixes and pacing the Big 12 with 13 takeaways. But they’re about to face a quarterback who has been careful with the football.
Arizona’s defense will have its own work cut out, though. Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond has been steady since returning from a season-ending ACL injury, throwing for 1,561 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. The bigger problem for the Wildcats may be running back J’Koby Williams, who has piled up 619 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
The setting is another hurdle for Arizona. The Wildcats have not played in Lubbock since 1989, and history has heavily favored the Red Raiders at home in this series. Texas Tech is 13-1 in home games against Arizona, with the Wildcats’ only win coming in 1935.
Even in the teams’ first meeting as Big 12 opponents in 2024, Arizona made it uncomfortable. The Wildcats pushed Texas Tech before falling 28-22 in Tucson.
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