Job well done: Tech set to send off seniors who topped 2022 expectations

When media who cover Big 12 football picked Texas Tech ninth before the start of the 2022 season, the Red Raiders didn't let it get them down. They go into the regular-season finale having already clinched bowl eligibility, sit tied for fourth in the conference and are looking for more.

Tech (6-5, 4-4 in the Big 12) hosts Oklahoma (6-5, 3-5) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium.

The team who comes out on top assures itself of ending the season with a winning record. In Tech's case, that wasn't necessarily the consensus opinion when the year started.

"Obviously, it's gratifying to get these guys to a bowl game," defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said. "Preseason, we never looked at it this way, other than we had a little chip on our shoulder that people picked us ninth in the conference.

"We understand it. We played I don't know how many Top 25 teams [six]. Preseason, we were probably underdogs in about 10 games. But none of our guys worried about that kind of stuff."

Tech assured itself of a bowl for the second year in a row with a 14-10 victory last week at Iowa State in sub-freezing weather. Now this Tech football team is trying to become the first to beat Texas and Oklahoma in the same season and the first to post a winning record in Big 12 play since 2009, Mike Leach's last season leading the Red Raiders.

Tech coach Joey McGuire said he prefers to keep his team's focus inward. As to the meaning of beating UT and OU in the same season, he said, "It's a big deal from the standpoint of who those programs are and what they've done in the past."

Tech will honor 26 players in a senior-night ceremony before the game. The Red Raiders have 11 seniors playing on their Covid-bonus year, their eligibility complete when the season ends. Most prominent in that group are linebackers Krishon Merriweather and Kosi Eldridge and defensive backs Marquis Waters and Adrian Frye.

Tech is looking into whether Eldridge might be eligible for a medical hardship waiver for his 2018 season at Kilgore College, during which he underwent season-ending surgery.

"It's been a great ride in the Jones for sure," Eldridge said. "So if this is to be my last game, then beating OU will be a great end to my playing career here at the Jones."

Another 23 Tech seniors have the option to play again next season on the Covid-bonus year, including five full- or part-time starters on offense, six full- or part-time starters on defense and both specialists. Among the latter group, safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson has said he will return next year, and Tech coach Joey McGuire said he expects safety Reggie Pearson to return as well.

McGuire said he encouraged all those with the option year to go through the senior-night ceremony if there's any chance they might not return in 2023.

"It means a lot to me to try to send these guys off with that seventh win on their last time in that stadium," McGuire said. "I think that's why it's so important for everybody to come back (after leaving town for Thanksgiving). These guys have done a lot. They've done a lot for this program."

Saturday also represents the last game for a Jones Stadium landmark. The Double T scoreboard, erected above the south end zone in June 1978, will be removed during the off-season. Tech is making way for a south end zone facilities project with a projected cost of $200 million. Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt has said a new Double T scoreboard — at least as big and possibly larger — will go up in its place.

As of Friday, Tech donors have pledged $81 million toward the south end zone project, senior associate athletics director Robert Giovannetti said.

Oklahoma snapped a two-game losing streak and became bowl eligible last week with a 28-13 victory against Oklahoma State. McGuire noted the Sooners' defense came up with four turnovers in the game.

OU has the Big 12's fourth-leading passer in Dillon Gabriel and its second-leading rusher in Eric Gray, who's run for 1,203 yards.

"They've got a great quarterback," McGuire said. "He's playing at a high level. And then they've got a great running back. I think that's almost every week, though, in the Big 12 with the running backs that we get to face."

College football

Who: Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Jones AT&T Stadium

TV: Fox Sports 1

Records: Oklahoma 6-5, 3-5 in the Big 12; Texas Tech 6-5, 4-4

Rankings (CFP/AP/coaches poll): Both teams unranked in all.

Line: Oklahoma by 2. Over-under: 64 1/2 points.

Radio: FM 97.3, FM 100.7, FM 106.5, AM 950 in Lubbock. FM 95.7, AM 1440 in Amarillo.

Satellite radio: Sirius/XM 135 or 200

Follow Along: Follow @AJ_DonWilliams and @cmsilvajr for live game updates, with post-game recap and interviews to follow at www.lubbockonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Job well done: Tech set to send off seniors who topped 2022 expectations