No. 13 Texas Tech gets its shot to reset Saturday, and the Red Raiders are walking into it with no margin for error.
After last week’s loss, Joey McGuire said his team has been pushed into a “five-game season,” a blunt read on where things stand for Texas Tech as it prepares to face No. 22 Arizona in a Top 25 matchup in Lubbock. The Red Raiders are 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play, while Arizona arrives with the same record and conference mark.
“We’ve turned this into a five-game season where there’s no room for error,” he said. “So, it’s going to come down to who can play the best each Saturday. And we’ve got to play much better, especially this week.”
One of the biggest boosts for Tech is the expected return of Cameron Dickey. The running back missed time after injuring his ankle earlier this month at Colorado, but before that setback he was a steady part of the offense, logging 57 carries for 242 yards and four touchdowns over his first five games.
“It’s going to be good to have him back,” McGuire said. “He’s just another guy that’s been in some big games that’s got a lot of experience and a lot of juice.”
Dickey comes back into a backfield where J’Koby Williams has been doing damage in a different way. Williams has emerged as one of the conference’s most explosive runners, piling up 86 carries for 240 yards and five touchdowns this season.
At quarterback, Will Hammond is still searching for a cleaner rhythm after a rough first half last week at Cincinnati, where he threw an interception and lost a fumble in Tech’s 37-24 defeat. That outing came one week after what had been his best performance of the year against Arizona State.
There’s also a chance backup Thomas Castellanos sees more snaps. He has completed three of five passes so far, with two touchdowns and one interception, and he has added 15 carries for 76 yards and two scores on the ground.
The Red Raiders’ offensive line is in for a serious test. Arizona’s defense has made life difficult for opposing quarterbacks with an aggressive pass rush, as 17 different players have recorded at least one half sack. The Wildcats are allowing 314.9 yards per game, which ranks fifth in the Big 12.
Tech may also try to feed Kenny Johnson more often. The Pitt transfer leads the team with 31 catches and 499 receiving yards, but he has reached the end zone only once. Micah Hudson is still waiting for his first touchdown of the season.
Tight end Terrance Carter, Jr. is probable as well, giving Tech another option if he’s able to go. He has played in five games and has posted 17 receptions for 151 yards and one touchdown, while also earning a reputation as one of the offense’s top situational pieces.
Arizona’s offense brings its own pressure, and it starts with the passing game. The Wildcats are averaging 310.9 passing yards per game, good for ninth nationally and second in the Big 12. Seth Doege, Arizona’s offensive coordinator, knows Texas Tech well after serving as the Red Raiders’ starting quarterback from 2011-12.
“What he is doing is he has got a quarterback, a fifth-year senior, really extremely talented that he’s got him playing at a really high level. That quarterback drives everything, he’s pretty special, and Seth’s doing a great job,” McGuire said.
That quarterback is Noah Fifita, who enters with a passer rating of 174.12. In seven games, he has completed 167 of 225 passes for 18 touchdowns and four interceptions.
“The quarterback’s a playmaker, he can hurt you with his arm, he can hurt you with his legs. They’re one of the top passing offenses in the country, they’re averaging 36 points a game, and he’s got some really nice tools on the perimeter to get the ball to,” said Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at Galaxy Stadium.
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