Lubbock is where dreams of a Jayhawk turnaround usually go to die. Seriously. If you’ve followed the Kansas Jayhawks football vs Texas Tech Red Raiders football series over the last few decades, you know it’s been less of a "rivalry" and more of a recurring nightmare for folks in Lawrence.
The 2025 meeting was supposed to be different. Kansas was coming in with Jalon Daniels under center and a sense of optimism that hasn't been seen since the Mark Mangino era. But by the time the dust settled at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 11, 2025, the scoreboard read 42-17 in favor of the Red Raiders. It was a classic "same old story" with a few new, frustrating chapters.
The Night Cameron Dickey Became a Legend
If you didn’t know the name Cameron Dickey before that Saturday night, he made sure you wouldn’t forget it. On the very first play from scrimmage, he took the rock 71 yards to the house. Boom. Just like that, Kansas was playing from behind before some fans had even sat down.
Dickey finished the game with 263 rushing yards. Read that again. Two hundred and sixty-three yards.
He was basically a human wrecking ball. The Kansas defense, which had shown flashes of being "legit" earlier in the season, looked like they were trying to tackle a ghost. Every time Dickey hit the gap, he was gone. He averaged 12.5 yards per carry, which is honestly embarrassing for a Power 4 defense.
The Behren Morton Scare and the Will Hammond Pivot
Texas Tech wasn't just cruising, though. There was a moment in the second quarter where the Lubbock faithful went dead silent. Behren Morton, the Red Raiders' starting QB, went down with what looked like a nasty lower right leg injury on a sack.
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He didn't come back.
This was the opening Kansas needed. With redshirt freshman Will Hammond stepping in, the Jayhawks actually clawed their way back. They turned a 21-0 deficit into a 21-17 game. For about thirty minutes of real-time, it felt like the upset was actually happening. Jalon Daniels was finding Boden Groen, who caught 13 balls that night. They were moving the chains.
Then the second half started.
Hammond, despite being a backup, didn't play like one for long. He scrambled for a 20-yard score on the opening drive of the third quarter and never looked back. Texas Tech scored 21 unanswered points to end it. Basically, they shut the door and locked it.
Why Kansas Can’t Win in Lubbock
The history of Kansas Jayhawks football vs Texas Tech Red Raiders football is remarkably lopsided. After the 2025 loss, Kansas dropped to 1-12 all-time in Lubbock. Overall, they’ve lost 24 of the last 26 meetings.
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Why?
- The Atmosphere: Night games in Lubbock are different. The fans are right on top of you, and the "Wreck 'Em" energy is suffocating.
- The Speed Gap: Even in the "bad" Texas Tech years, they always seem to have faster skill players than KU.
- Self-Inflicted Wounds: In the 2025 game, Jalon Daniels was sacked for -40 total yards of rushing losses. You can't win when your QB is running backward.
Lance Leipold admitted after the game that the margin for error against a top-10 team (Texas Tech was ranked No. 9 at the time) is razor-thin. Kansas fumbled on their second drive. They missed assignments. Against a Joey McGuire-led Tech team that smells blood, that’s a death sentence.
Breaking Down the Stats (The Ugly Truth)
If you look at the box score, you’d think it was two different sports being played. Texas Tech had 372 rushing yards. Kansas had 47.
Forty-seven.
You’re not winning a game in the Big 12 with 47 rushing yards. Jalon Daniels actually played a decent game through the air, going 27-of-33 for 228 yards and two scores, but he had zero help from the ground game. Devin Neal’s absence or lack of production (depending on which "insider" you believe) was the quietest, loudest part of the night.
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On the flip side, Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez was a monster on defense. 14 tackles. A sack. He was everywhere. He made sure the Jayhawks' offense never got into a rhythm after that brief second-quarter surge.
What This Means for the Future
Texas Tech finished that 2025 regular season with a 12-2 record, eventually winning the Big 12 Championship over BYU. They were the real deal. Kansas, meanwhile, finished 5-7.
The gap between the top of the Big 12 and the middle is widening, and this game was the proof. Kansas has the coaching. They have the "culture." But they don't have the depth. When Morton went down for Tech, Hammond stepped in and they didn't miss a beat. When Kansas gets dinged up, the drop-off is a cliff.
Things to Watch Next Time They Meet
- The Quarterback Battle: Will Hammond is likely the future in Lubbock. Kansas needs to find their "post-Daniels" identity fast.
- Lubbock vs Lawrence: Kansas actually plays Tech much better at home (see the 2019 and 2023 games). Check the schedule before you place a bet.
- Defensive Line Recruiting: Until KU can stop a power running game like Dickey’s, they’ll keep getting bullied by the Red Raiders.
The reality is that Kansas Jayhawks football vs Texas Tech Red Raiders football remains a hurdle that Leipold hasn't quite cleared yet. It’s a matchup defined by Texas Tech’s explosive starts and Kansas’s inability to finish the fight in West Texas.
If you’re a Jayhawk fan, you just have to hope the 2026 meeting is in Lawrence. If you’re a Red Raider, you’re probably just wondering when the next 200-yard rusher is going to emerge.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Betting Tip: When playing in Lubbock, always look at the "Over" on Texas Tech’s rushing yards. The Jayhawks have historically struggled with Tech's zone-run schemes.
- Travel Advice: If you're heading to Jones AT&T Stadium, get there early for the "Raider Walk." It’s one of the best traditions in the Big 12 and sets the tone for the game.
- Watch the Injury Report: Both teams have had "fragile" QB situations recently. The backup's mobility is often the deciding factor in this specific matchup.
The 2025 game proved that while Kansas is no longer a "doormat," they still aren't ready for the heavyweight fights in the Big 12. Texas Tech, under McGuire, has built a roster that is simply too fast and too physical for the current Jayhawk iteration to handle on the road. Until KU can find a way to win the battle in the trenches, the "Tortilla Tossers" will continue to have the upper hand.