WVU Football

HOW TO WATCH: WVU Football Week 5 vs. Texas Tech

Published

3 years ago

October 2, 2021

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU Mountaineers (2-2) welcome the Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-1) to Milan Puskar Stadium for the rivalry’s 11th meeting. Although Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells has collected two consecutive Red Raider wins in as many seasons for the program, it’s unlikely that he’ll get the hat trick.

Both teams are coming off losses to the best teams in the Big 12 Conference, but WVU’s slipped-away 16-13 loss in Norman to the then-No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners looks significantly better for the program’s chances today, on all sides of the ball, than Tech’s 70-35 loss in Austin to the Texas Longhorns. Couple that with the electricity of playing in Milan Puskar Stadium during a Stripe the Stadium and Homecoming Game, and the Mountaineers’ 2-2 series record at home looks even more promising.

Wake Up! 🚨
🟡 It's GAMEDAY! 🔵#TrustTheClimb pic.twitter.com/75vcXjiwix
— WVU Football (@WVUfootball) October 2, 2021

WVU head coach Neal Brown and his staff will clash with a familiar foe in Texas Tech back-up quarterback Henry Colombi, in for Red Raiders QB1 Tyler Slough, who is sidelined until November with a broken collarbone. This Mountaineers roster is familiar with Colombi, who dealt the team last season’s 34-27 loss when he came in for yet another injured Red Raiders quarterback, Alan Bowman.

On the other side of the ball, WVU defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley runs a tight, effective ship. His defense ranks nationally: No. 4 in red zone defense, No. 23 in rushing defense, No. 25 in scoring defense, and No. 36 in total defense. Colombi will also be susceptible to the team’s 3.5 sacks a game, which ties Kansas State and Oklahoma for No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 14 in the nation.

Historically a close match-up, if WVU’s two-quarterback system can produce while mitigating turnovers, this game may not be as much of a shoot-out as the touchdown spread indicates.

If you aren’t able to celebrate Homecoming Weekend in West Virginia, check the listings below to find a place to listen to this conference battle. Kick-off is at 3:30 p.m. EST, but the festivities in Morgantown are running all day!