LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Tech Red Raiders are undefeated, nationally ranked and sitting at the top of the Big 12.
Now comes another opportunity to prove that their perfect start is no accident.
The No. 11 Texas Tech Red Raiders will host the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday, October 17, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
ET / 2:30 p.m. CT at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. The matchup will be televised on FOX.
Texas Tech enters the game at a perfect 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play, while Arizona State comes to Lubbock at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
For Red Raider Nation, the mission is straightforward: defend home field, remain unbeaten and keep control of the Big 12 race.
🔴⚫ ARIZONA STATE AT NO. 11 TEXAS TECH — GAME INFORMATION
Matchup: Arizona State Sun Devils at No. 11 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CT
Venue: Jones AT&T Stadium — Lubbock, Texas
TV: FOX
Texas Tech: 5-0 overall, 2-0 Big 12
Arizona State: 2-2 overall, 1-1 Big 12
The pregame numbers overwhelmingly favor Texas Tech.
ESPN Analytics gives the Red Raiders a massive 93.7% chance to win, compared with only 6.3% for Arizona State.
That makes Texas Tech the clear favorite, but this is still a Big 12 game — and the Red Raiders cannot afford to approach it casually.
🔥 WILL HAMMOND CONTINUES TO LEAD THE OFFENSE
Quarterback Will Hammond enters the matchup as one of the central figures in Texas Tech’s undefeated start.
Hammond has completed 97 of 142 passes for 1,102 yards, throwing five touchdowns against five interceptions.
The yardage demonstrates Texas Tech’s ability to move the football through the air, but ball security will be one of the biggest areas to watch Saturday.
Five interceptions provide Arizona State with a possible route into the game.
Texas Tech cannot give the Sun Devils short fields and additional possessions.
If Hammond protects the football and plays efficiently, the Red Raiders should have numerous opportunities to put points on the board.
💥 J’KOBE WILLIAMS GIVES TEXAS TECH BALANCE
The Red Raiders also possess a productive rushing attack.
J’Kobe Williams leads Texas Tech with 373 rushing yards on 63 carries and three touchdowns.
That balance could become critical.
Arizona State cannot simply concentrate on stopping Hammond and Texas Tech’s passing attack if Williams is consistently gaining yards on the ground.
A strong rushing performance would allow the Red Raiders to dictate tempo, stay ahead of the chains and control possession.
It would also open up play-action opportunities for Hammond.
Texas Tech is at its most dangerous when opposing defenses cannot predict where the football is going.
🎯 KELLY JOHNSON PROVIDES A RECEIVING THREAT
Texas Tech’s leading receiver in the displayed matchup statistics is Kelly Johnson, who enters with 298 receiving yards on 17 catches and one touchdown.
Those numbers show his ability to create significant yardage without requiring an enormous number of receptions.
Against Arizona State, Texas Tech will want to create opportunities for Johnson in space.
One explosive completion could force the Sun Devils to adjust their coverage and create openings elsewhere.
The Red Raiders don’t need to force the football downfield on every possession.
But when Arizona State gives them an opportunity, Hammond and Johnson need to punish it.
🛡️ A.J. HOLMES JR. CAN CREATE PRESSURE
Defensively, A.J. Holmes Jr. leads Texas Tech with 2.5 sacks, while linebacker Amier Romain has recorded 34 tackles.
Their challenge will be containing an Arizona State offense that possesses several dangerous weapons.
The Red Raiders need pressure without sacrificing discipline.
If Texas Tech can control the line of scrimmage and force Arizona State into predictable passing situations, the defense should have opportunities to create turnovers and get Hammond’s offense back onto the field.
⚠️ CUTTER BOLEY AND ARIZONA STATE CAN’T BE IGNORED
Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley enters the matchup with numbers that deserve attention.
Boley has completed 78 of 127 passes for 1,040 yards, producing an impressive 10 touchdowns against only three interceptions.
That touchdown-to-interception ratio demonstrates why Texas Tech cannot simply assume its 93.7% win probability guarantees an easy afternoon.
Boley can make plays.
Receiver Raleek Harris is another major concern, entering with 499 receiving yards on 26 catches and five touchdowns.
That’s considerably more receiving yardage than any player shown for Texas Tech.
If the Red Raiders allow Boley and Harris to establish an early rhythm, Arizona State could make this game uncomfortable.
🏃 SUN DEVILS HAVE ANOTHER WEAPON ON THE GROUND
Arizona State running back Kyson Brown has recorded 261 rushing yards on 50 carries with one touchdown.
Texas Tech needs to prevent Brown from consistently producing manageable second- and third-down situations.
Force Arizona State to become one-dimensional, and the Red Raiders can turn up the pressure on Boley.
Allow the Sun Devils to run efficiently, however, and Texas Tech’s defensive challenge becomes significantly more complicated.
🔥 LUBBOCK NEEDS TO BE LOUD
Texas Tech has earned its position.
5-0 overall.
2-0 in the Big 12.
No. 11 in the country.
Now the challenge changes.
When a team starts climbing the rankings, every opponent arrives looking for the upset.
Arizona State has nothing to lose Saturday.
The Sun Devils can play aggressively and take chances because virtually everyone expects Texas Tech to win.
The Red Raiders cannot give them confidence.
Start fast. Protect the football. Establish Williams on the ground. Pressure Boley. Keep Harris from generating explosive plays.
Do those things, and Texas Tech should have an opportunity to take care of business.
Arizona State Sun Devils at No. 11 Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Saturday, October 17 — 3:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CT.
Jones AT&T Stadium — Lubbock, Texas. FOX.
For Red Raider Nation, the goal couldn’t be clearer:
Protect Lubbock. Stay perfect. Move to 6-0. Keep control of the Big 12. Wreck ’Em! 🔴⚫