A 20 year look at Texas Tech's Non-Conference Schedule

With everyone taking the time to dump on the decision to allow Brendan Sorsby to play for Texas Tech this upcoming season, I wanted to go back to the commentary last week from Cody Campbell and Joey McGuire about playing Texas in the non-conference. Sark's comments about a certain Big 12 team's schedule are obviously arrogant, but when you look at Texas Tech's non-conference schedule, I'm not sure there's any team worse in the last 20 year period. Here are the numbers that stood out to me:


5 games against ranked teams (1-4 record)
8 games against power 4 (or 5) opponents (2-6 record; 1-3 at home and on road)
18 total road games (11-7 record)
22 FCS Opponents (22-0 record)
22 additional home games against non-power 4 (or 5) teams: (22-0 record)


So more FCS opponents played than total non-conference neutral or road games. Only FIVE ranked opponents (3 of those were non-power 4 games). Absolutely embarrassing, and even though Texas Tech was able to pick up some good PR points by making it seem like Texas is scared to play them, it's pretty darn clear which one of these teams has been scared in their non-conference schedule with little to no penalty for it. This season, it's the powerhouse combo of Abilene Christian (FCS), @ Oregon State, and Sam Houston St.


Here's the breakdown by game:

2025: Arkansas-Pine Bluff (FCS), Kent St, Oregon St
2024: Abilene Christian (FCS), @ Washington St (loss), North Texas
2023: @ Wyoming (loss), #13 Oregon (loss), Tarleton St (FCS)
2022: Murray St (FCS), #25 Houston, @ #16 NC St (loss)
2021: Houston, Stephen F Austin (FCS), Florida International
2020*: Houston Baptist (FCS) * - (covid season)
2019: Montana St (FCS), UTEP, @ Arizona (loss)
2018: Ole Miss (loss), Lamar (FCS), Houston
2017: Eastern Washington (FCS), Arizona St, @ Houston
2016: Stephen F Austin (FCS), @ Arizona St (loss), Louisiana Tech
2015: Sam Houston St (FCS), UTEP, @ Arkansas
2014: Central Arkansas (FCS), @ UTEP, Arkansas (loss)
2013: @ SMU, Stephen F Austin (FCS), Texas State
2012: Northwestern St (FCS), @ Texas St, New Mexico
2011: Texas St (FCS), @ New Mexico, Nevada
2010: SMU, @ New Mexico, Weber State (FCS), Houston
2009: North Dakota (FCS), Rice, @ #17 Houston (loss), New Mexico
2008: Eastern Washington (FCS), @ Nevada, SMU, UMass (FCS)
2007: @ SMU, UTEP, @ Rice, Northwestern St (FCS)
2006: SMU, @ UTEP, @ #20 TCU (loss), Southeastern Louisiana (FCS)
2005: Florida International, Sam Houston St (FCS), Indiana St (FCS)