Arizona seeks first Lubbock win since 1935

Arizona's margin, Texas Tech's ball security

Against Power 4 opponents, Arizona is +73 in point margin, 10th nationally and second in its conference. Texas Tech is +39 in the same games, 17th nationally and fourth in the conference. Both have won most of their big games, and Arizona has won them by more.

Against Power 4 teams, Arizona gains 452 yards a game, seventh nationally, and allows 334, 17th. Texas Tech gains 411 and allows 419, ranking 21st and 58th. The Red Raiders' defense is giving up more yards than their offense gains.

Against Power 4 opponents, Arizona allows 17.3 points a game, eighth nationally, and 73.8% of the drives it faces end without a score, second nationally and first in its conference. Texas Tech allows 23.8 points, 29th, and stops 66.7% of drives, 19th.

Texas Tech wins the quieter Power 4 categories with a +3 turnover margin, 15th nationally, to Arizona's even 0, 34th. The Red Raiders are penalized 50 yards a game, 32nd nationally, against 62 for Arizona. Arizona holds the ball 31:59 a game, 14th nationally, to Texas Tech's 28:21.

Arizona's arm, Texas Tech's legs

When Arizona has the ball, it brings the fifth-ranked passing offense nationally against Power 4 opponents, 298 yards a game, into a Texas Tech pass defense that allows 283, 72nd nationally and 14th in the conference. Arizona converts 50.0% of its third downs, sixth nationally, and Texas Tech allows 41.4%, 44th. In the red zone, the Red Raiders allow scores on 85.7% of trips, 16th in the conference, and Arizona scores on 87.5%.

Isaiah Mizell leads Arizona in receiving yards and catches, with 493 yards on 27 catches and 5 touchdowns. Tre Spivey is second in receiving yards with 314 and has 4 touchdowns. That group is largely new, since Arizona returns 43% of its 2025 receiving yards, while 98% of its 2025 passing yards are back. Kedrick Reescano leads the Wildcats in rushing yards with 303 and 5 touchdowns, and Antwan Roberts Jr. is second with 251.

When Texas Tech has the ball, the run game leads. The Red Raiders run for 196 yards a game against Power 4 opponents, seventh nationally, and Arizona allows 144 on the ground, 38th nationally and ninth in the conference. J'Koby Williams leads Texas Tech in rushing yards with 619 and 5 touchdowns, and his 7.2 yards a carry rank third in FBS among backs with 10 or more carries a game. Quinten Joyner is second with 247, and Texas Tech returns 98% of its 2025 rushing yards.

The passing game is newer, with 19% of the 2025 passing yards back. Quarterback Will Hammond leads Texas Tech in passing yards with 1,561, with 6 touchdowns, 6 interceptions and a 67.8 completion percentage. Kenny Johnson leads the Red Raiders in receiving yards and catches, 499 yards on 31 catches, and Coy Eakin has 263 yards and 3 touchdowns. Against Power 4 teams, Texas Tech converts 33.3% of third downs, 62nd nationally, and scores on 76.5% of red zone trips, while Arizona allows 69.2% in the red zone, fourth nationally and best in the Big 12.

Texas Tech's 17-point line

Texas Tech is 55-0 since 2008 when it allows 17 points or fewer. Arizona scores 35.5 points a game against Power 4 opponents, seventh nationally and second in its conference, more than double that line.

Fifita's 17-game touchdown streak

Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita has thrown a touchdown pass in 17 straight games. He leads the Wildcats in passing yards with 2,047, with 18 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. His 74.1% completion rate ranks second in FBS among passers with 15 or more attempts a game, and his 18 touchdown passes are third in the Big 12.

Texas Tech rebuilt its pass rush

Texas Tech returns 18% of its 2025 sacks, 7.5 of 41, after 29.5 left for the NFL with David Bailey, Romello Height and Lee Hunter. Transfers brought in 36, led by Adam Trick's 8. Defensive lineman A.J. Holmes Jr. leads the Red Raiders in sacks with 5.5, to go with 6.5 tackles for loss. Arizona linebacker Chase Kennedy leads the Wildcats in sacks with 4.

Brennan's ranked hurdle, Texas Tech's draft class

Arizona coach Brent Brennan is 3-13 as a head coach against ranked teams.

Texas Tech linebacker Austin Romaine, a transfer, leads the Red Raiders in tackles with 52 and has 2 interceptions. Arizona linebacker Taye Brown leads the Wildcats in tackles with 41.

Texas Tech had 9 players drafted, including 2 edge rushers, 2 defensive tackles and 2 receivers, with 3 in the first two rounds. David Bailey went second overall to New York, and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and defensive tackle Lee Hunter followed in the second round. Quarterback Behren Morton went in the seventh round to New England.

Arizona had 4 players drafted, 3 safeties and a cornerback, led by safety Treydan Stukes at pick 38 to Las Vegas.

Dickey cleared, Arizona's report pending

Update, Sat, Oct 31, 9:30 AM CT: Since Friday's report, Texas Tech upgraded Miquel Dingle Jr. (probable to available) and S'Vioarean Martin (probable to available). Since Friday's report, Arizona downgraded Ismail Mahdi (questionable to out) and Max Harris (questionable to out). On the latest report, Texas Tech lists Malcolm Simmons and Jalen Jones as out or doubtful. Arizona lists Jay'Vion Cole, Kevin Moorer Jr., Ismail Mahdi and 5 others as out or doubtful.

Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said Oct. 26 that running back Cameron Dickey is cleared to play Saturday after missing two games with an ankle injury, barring setbacks, according to The Daily Toreador. Receivers Donte Lee Jr. and Jalen Jones were listed Out on the Big 12 availability report, Lee for the last 2 games and Jones against Cincinnati. Both arrived as transfers, Jones with 1,119 receiving yards in 2025 and Lee with 589.

Lubbock has belonged to Texas Tech

Texas Tech leads the series 27-5-2 in 34 meetings since 1932. The Red Raiders are 13-1-2 at home against Arizona, and the Wildcats last won in Lubbock in 1935.

The last meeting was a 28-22 Texas Tech win at Arizona in 2024, when Tahj Brooks ran for 128 yards. That Red Raiders team went 8-5, and that Arizona team went 4-8 with an All-American receiver in Tetairoa McMillan. Both programs climbed in 2025, Texas Tech to 12-2 and Arizona to 9-4.

Three things to watch

Arizona's fast starts: the Wildcats have outscored Power 4 opponents 46-13 in the first quarter and have not trailed at the end of a quarter in 14 straight quarters.

Cam Chapa's milestone: the Arizona safety, a transfer from Northern Colorado, needs 1 interception to reach 10 for his career.

The kickers: Arizona's Michael Salgado-Medina leads the Big 12 with 2 field goals of 50-plus yards, and Texas Tech's Stone Harrington is second in the Big 12 with 15 field goals.