/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57094321/858736428.0.jpg)
The Battle of New-Look Big 12 Heavyweights
Honestly, if you told a college football fan ten years ago that a mid-October game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Kansas Jayhawks would have major conference title implications, they’d have laughed you out of the room. Kansas was the perennial doormat. Tech was the "Air Raid" circus that couldn’t play a lick of defense.
Things change.
In 2025, this matchup became the focal point of a wide-open Big 12. Joey McGuire has turned Lubbock into a recruiting powerhouse, while Lance Leipold has done the impossible by making Lawrence, Kansas, a destination for tough, disciplined football. When these two met on October 11, 2025, it wasn't just a game; it was a collision of two programs trying to prove they belong at the top of the new-look hierarchy.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Football vs Kansas Jayhawks Football: The 2025 Clash
The Red Raiders came into the 2025 season with arguably the most expensive roster in the country, thanks to a massive NIL push and a No. 1 ranked transfer portal class. They didn't just buy talent; they bought the right talent. On that Saturday in Lubbock, the Texas Tech defense put on a masterclass that most fans haven't seen in the 806 since the spike-strip days.
The final score—Texas Tech 42, Kansas 17—doesn't even tell the whole story.
Texas Tech’s pass rush was relentless. Romello Height and John Curry lived in the Kansas backfield. There was this one play where Height basically teleported past the tackle, stripped the ball from Jalon Daniels, and Curry scooped it up for a touchdown. It was a statement.
"We're running the ball well... do it more," Joey McGuire told reporters mid-game, and they did.
🔗 Read more: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Cameron Dickey and USC transfer Quinten Joyner hammered the Jayhawks' front. While Kansas tried to keep pace with Jalon Daniels and his dual-threat ability, the Tech secondary, led by Jacob Rodriguez, read every play action like they were in the Jayhawks' huddle.
Why the Jayhawks' Resurgence Hit a Wall
Kansas fans have been through a lot. For a minute there, it looked like they were back to their 2022 form. Daniels was healthy, and the offense was clicking early in the season. But the depth issues that have haunted Lawrence for years started to show.
- Injury Bug: Losing key defensive starters earlier in the year made it hard to stop a Tech offense that can hurt you in five different ways.
- The Portal Gap: While Kansas has been great at retaining talent—losing the fewest scholarship players to the portal of any Power 4 team—they didn't have the same "reload" capability that McGuire has built in Lubbock.
- Offensive Identity: Without Devin Neal in the backfield (who finally ran out of eligibility), the running game lacked that home-run threat that used to keep Big 12 coordinators awake at night.
Leshon Williams (the Iowa transfer) and Daniel Hishaw Jr. are solid, don't get me wrong. But against a Tech defensive line that looks like it belongs in the SEC, "solid" just didn't cut it.
The History You Probably Forgot
Historically, this series hasn't been much of a "rivalry" because Texas Tech usually treated Kansas like a homecoming opponent. Before the 2025 shellacking, Tech held a massive lead in the series, winning 24 of the 26 matchups.
The first time they played was back in 1965. Tech won 26-7. For decades, that was the script.
However, there was that weird stretch starting in 2019 where Kansas started to bite back. Remember the 37-34 Jayhawk win in Lawrence? Or the 2023 nail-biter where Tech barely escaped with a 16-13 win? That’s why the 2025 game felt so different. It wasn't just a Tech blowout; it was a dominant performance against a Kansas team that people actually respected.
💡 You might also like: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
Key Players Who Defined the 2025 Matchup
It’s impossible to talk about this game without mentioning Behren Morton.
The Tech QB has been through the ringer with injuries over his career, but in 2025, he looked like the veteran everyone hoped he’d be. He wasn't just hucking it deep; he was surgical. His connection with Coy Eakin and the young superstar Micah Hudson is something special. Hudson, the former five-star recruit, finally looked like he was playing at full speed, making catches that defy physics.
On the Kansas side, Levi Wentz became the go-to guy. He had 11 catches in that October game. He’s a possession receiver who just finds space, but when your quarterback is running for his life, it’s hard to build a rhythm.
What Most People Get Wrong About Tech vs. Kansas
A lot of national media pundits still look at this as a "basketball school vs. football school" thing. That’s lazy.
Lubbock is a football town through and through. The Jones Atmo (Jones AT&T Stadium) is one of the most hostile places to play in the country, especially when the tortilla-tossing starts under the lights. And Kansas? Lance Leipold has changed the DNA of that program. They aren't "basketball players playing football" anymore. They are a legitimate Power 4 program that just happened to run into a buzzsaw in 2025.
The real story isn't that Kansas is bad—it’s that Texas Tech has finally figured out how to use its resources.
📖 Related: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
McGuire’s ability to blend high-school recruiting with aggressive portal acquisitions has created a roster that finally matches the expectations of the Red Raider faithful. They ended the 2025 season with an A+ grade, winning their first outright conference title since 1955. Think about that. Seventy years.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're betting on this matchup in the future or just trying to sound smart at the tailgate, here is what you need to watch:
- Check the Trench Depth: Tech has invested heavily in the lines. If Kansas doesn't start landing more four-star defensive tackles, the Red Raiders will continue to bully them at the point of attack.
- Home Field Advantage is Real: Since 1965, the home team has a massive advantage in this series. If the game is in Lubbock, expect the point spread to be significantly higher.
- Quarterback Health is Everything: Both programs have struggled with QB durability recently. If Jalon Daniels or Behren Morton is out, the entire game plan for both sides evaporates.
- Watch the "Buck" Role: In 2025, the hybrid linebacker/end position for both teams was the X-factor. Tech’s ability to drop guys like Jacob Rodriguez into coverage while still rushing the passer is what confused the Kansas offense.
The 2025 game was a turning point. It signaled that Texas Tech isn't just "spooky"—they are the team to beat in the Big 12. For Kansas, it was a reality check. They’ve climbed the mountain to get to "average," but the jump from average to elite is the hardest one to make.
Keep an eye on the 2026 recruiting classes for both. Tech is currently winning that battle, but Leipold has a way of doing more with less. Just don't expect a blowout every year; the parity in this conference is too high for that to be the norm.
For now, the Red Raiders have the crown. Kansas has the tape to watch.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, monitor the spring transfer portal windows for defensive line depth. That is where the 2025 game was won, and it's where the 2026 game will be decided. Follow local Lubbock and Lawrence beat writers who track practice reps, as both coaching staffs have become increasingly secretive about package-specific personnel in the new Big 12.