Kent State Athletics
Texas Tech (1-0) continues its season-opening homestand this Saturday when the Red Raiders welcome Kent State (1-0) to Jones AT&T Stadium for an 11 a.m. kickoff. The matchup, carried on TNT Sports and HBO Max, marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs and just the second time Tech has faced a Mid-American Conference opponent in school history—the other being a 1948 Sun Bowl loss to Miami (OH).
Joey McGuire’s squad comes in riding high after a 67-7 demolition of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Week 1, Tech’s largest season-opening win since 1927. Senior quarterback Behren Morton looked sharp before exiting early, completing 16-of-20 passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns. The Red Raiders piled up 608 total yards, including 294 on the ground, while their defense limited UAPB to just 175 yards.
The rushing duo of Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams gave fans a glimpse of life after Tahj Brooks, combining for 146 yards and two scores. Freshman Adam Hill and backup QB Will Hammond added another 142 rushing yards in the second half, proving depth won’t be an issue in the backfield.
Kent State, meanwhile, opened its season with a 21-17 win over Merrimack, giving first-year head coach Mark Carney his debut victory. The Golden Flashes were opportunistic, leaning on defense and timely plays to grind out the win. They’ll face a much stiffer challenge this week against a Red Raider program that has won 44 of its last 46 non-conference home games since 2002.
There are a few ties between the two schools. Tech offensive linemen Will Jados (Miami-Ohio transfer) and Vinny Sciury (Toledo transfer) both hail from Ohio, with Sciury’s hometown of Massillon sitting just 35 miles from Kent State’s campus. On the other side, Kent State administrator Greg Glaus spent four years in Lubbock as a senior associate AD before returning to his alma mater.
Saturday should feature plenty of scarlet and black once again. Tech announced its opener was a sellout, and fewer than 500 tickets remained earlier this week for Kent State, putting the Red Raiders on pace for back-to-back sellouts to start the season. It’s another sign of how much momentum the program has under McGuire, who has now won 24 games in just over three years at the helm.
The Red Raiders enter ranked No. 23 in the coaches poll and No. 24 in the AP, and with Oregon State looming next week, this game serves as the middle leg of a rare three-game homestand. A win would mark Tech’s 18th straight home victory against an unranked non-conference opponent.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on TNT Sports, with J.B. Long, Michael Golic Jr., and Allie LaForce on the call. The Texas Tech Sports Network, led by Brian Jensen, John Harris, and Chris Level, will carry the radio broadcast statewide and on SiriusXM.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
