In a matchup of new money (Oregon) vs. newer money (Texas Tech), the Ducks and Red Raiders both have to travel a long way for their fourth and by far most important meeting.
Oregon is 3-0 in the previous matchups, the last coming in 2023 at Lubbock. The Ducks also swept a home-and-home in the early 1990s, when both could only dream of contending for national championships.
None of that matters. This Texas Tech-Oregon game will feature next-level versions of each program, both going to the Orange Bowl for the first time.
Texas Tech transformed its roster through transfer portal investments to assemble one of college football’s best defenses, overwhelm most of its Big 12 opposition and win an outright conference title for the first time since 1955. Simply, the Red Raiders are in the midst of the greatest season in program history — with all due respect to the late, great Mike Leach’s incredibly fun 2008 team. Texas Tech enters the postseason with a chance to win the national title for the first time. In fact, it’s never finished in the top 10.
Oregon has been here before — the Ducks lost national title games after the 2010 and 2014 seasons — but in many ways the program has never been better. Oregon entered the Big Ten last year and immediately proved it not only would survive, but thrive. The Ducks are 25-2 the past two seasons with two Playoff appearances.
