Big 12 Power Rankings: Little Separation At the Top
By Ben Nielsen
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Jul 22, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Kliff Kingsbury speaks to the media during the Big 12 media days at the Omni Dallas Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Last Season: 8-5 (4-5)
Key Player Person: Kliff Kingsbury
Key Word: Future
Outlook:
There was a point last season when Texas Tech was 6-1 and in heavy competition for the Big 12 title. Then Kansas State came in and smoked the Red Raiders by 31 points. Another loss to Texas followed, and then a near loss to Kansas in overtime the next week.
Opponents took advantage of a poor run defense, and Tech couldn’t fix it. The result was a disappointing 8-5 season, one that led Tommy Tuberville to bolt for greener pastures.
In comes a fresh face from what seems like the distant past in Kliff Kingsbury to remake a Texas Tech program that feels like it is in shambles. Kingsbury helped build the program with former coach Mike Leach, and will try to take a similar philosophy with him to build what was once a perennial contender in the Big 12.