GAME THINGS
	Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-3, 2-3)
	Oklahoma Sooners (8-0, 5-0)
	October 30th @ 2:30 p.m.
	Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium – Norman, Oklahoma
	Oklahoma -19.5
	ABC | WatchESPN
	Sunny 70-44.

Dallas Morning News’ Ryan Mainville | The Main Point: Addressing Texas Tech coaching candidates and Saturday’s game vs. Oklahoma

ME: Without touching on the specifics, Texas Tech has contacted Jeff Traylor to gauge his interest in the head coach opening. At this point — and it is still very early in this process — Traylor and SMU head coach Sonny Dykes continue to be the two names garnering the most interest from Texas Tech. Both are currently coaching undefeated and ranked football teams in the state of Texas, something that hasn’t been true for Texas Tech since Week 9 in 2008. They each also have their points of concern. Dykes’ record at California has generated worry from the fanbase that he can’t win at the Power 5 level, while Traylor is still only in his second season a college head coach. Regardless, both are good coaches and would check many boxes for the Red Raiders. It’s been less than a week since Matt Wells was fired, but I’d be surprised if one of these coaches wasn’t leading the charge in Lubbock next year.

Athlon Sports | College Football Hot Seat Watch: What’s Next at Texas Tech and Washington State

The most obvious candidate for Tech – or any other Power 5 Texas program – is UTSA’s Jeff Traylor. Traylor has renovated the Roadrunners in short order, using his in-state contacts as a former Texas high school football coach to build a G5 powerhouse in short order. His work hasn’t gone unnoticed – rumors out of San Antonio are swirling that UTSA won’t simply let Traylor leave for a low-tier P5 without a fight (meaning a raise). If you’re Traylor, conference affiliation comes in second to where you think you can win the most, and that comes down to where you think more in-state talent would rather be – San Antonio or Lubbock.

Sooners Wire’s John Williams | 10 Bold Predictions for the Oklahoma Sooners matchup with Texas Tech

Close as Usual
Winning close games has become a tradition like no other in 2021 for the Oklahoma Sooners. Five of their eight wins have come by one score or less. The only games they’ve won by more than a score was the week two romp of Western Carolina, then they beat a reeling TCU team by 21, and last week in their 12 point win over Kansas. A game that required the Oklahoma Sooners to convert on fourth down

For as good as we felt following that win over TCU, the good vibes evaporated in their win over Kansas as they fell behind 10-0 at halftime and had to fight off a scrappy Jayhawks squad.

While Oklahoma is the more talented team on paper heading into their matchup with Texas Tech, the Red Raiders have plenty of talent on the offensive side of the football, especially at wide receiver, to keep this game close.

Norman Transcript’s Jesse Crittenden | OU football: Three keys for the Sooners against Texas Tech

2. Pressure the quarterback

The Sooners’ defense sacked Texas quarterback Casey Thompson three times earlier this month, bringing the team’s season sack total to 19.

In the two games since, the defense has recorded one sack.

Early in the season, the Sooners were able to compensate for their struggling secondary with great defensive-line play. But the Sooners haven’t been able to generate quarterback pressure consistently in recent weeks.

OU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said part of the reason is defenders have not been able to fight off blocks from opposing offensive linemen consistently.

“The willingness to be blocked has been evident on film, which has to be corrected,” Grinch said Tuesday. “Again, there are a lot of examples of us doing it right. We have to get back to that. We have to challenge the guys, and we have and will continue to do during the course of the week of practice.”

Tulsa World’s Eric Bailey | Texas Tech at No. 4 Oklahoma: Top storyline, key matchup, player to watch and who wins

Washing awful taste away
Seven long days will have passed between last week’s dismal performance at Kansas and the home game against the Red Raiders. The Sooners will have a bunch to prove both offensively and defensively. This also will be the last opportunity to impress the College Football Playoff selection committee, which will reveal its first Top 25 on Tuesday night.

RedRaiderSports’ Matt Clare | Who do TXHSFB coaches think TTU should hire?