The 2021 college football season is only a month away, but with seismic shifts being felt in the current conference alignment, the only thing anybody wants to discuss is conference realignment. And with the Big XII apparently on the verge of collapse, Texas Tech’s stake in realignment couldn’t possibly be higher.
As of this writing, speculation—and it doesn’t seem to be much more than that—is that the Red Raiders are most likely to wind up in a beefed up PAC 12, perhaps with Oklahoma State in tow. Toward that end, it might be interesting to look at how Texas Tech stacks up with its potential future conference peers. Below is a primer of the current PAC 12 schools, containing certain basic information.
From the data below, here are a few observations:
Texas Tech’s overall football record against current PAC 12 schools is 39-19-2. Much of that record stems from Tech’s 26-5-2 advantage over old Border Conference foe, Arizona. Texas Tech has never played UCLA or Stanford in football, and has played California and Oregon State only once.
Jones Stadium would be the fifth largest stadium in the PAC 12, trailing those at UCLA, USC, Washington and California.
Texas Tech’s overall basketball record against PAC 12 schools is 75-83. Texas Tech has never played California in basketball, and has played Oregon State and Washington State only once.
United Supermarkets Arena would be the largest basketball venue in the PAC 12. The Jon M. Huntsman Center at Utah would be bumped to second.
In terms of population, Lubbock, Texas would be the fourth largest PAC 12 city, trailing Los Angeles, Seattle and Tucson. If metropolitan area is the criterion, Lubbock would fall below Tempe (Phoenix), Berkeley (San Francisco/Oakland) and Stanford (San Francisco/Oakland).
Texas Tech’s student population of 40,300 would be seventh most in the PAC 12.
The closest school to Texas Tech, in terms of driving distance, would be Colorado, some 562 miles away. The farthest would be Oregon State at 1,874 miles distant. Average driving distance would be 1,257 miles.
Arizona Wildcats
Football series record with Texas Tech: 5-26-2
Arizona Stadium: 50,800
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 24-28
McKale Center: 14,500
Location: Tucson, Arizona; population, 554,500
University of Arizona student population: 45,900
Distance from Lubbock: 634 miles
Arizona State Sun Devils
Football series record with Texas Tech: 2-2
Sun Devil Stadium: 56,600
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 19-22
Desert Financial Arena: 14,100
Location: Tempe, Arizona; population, 195,800
Arizona State student population: 52,400
Distance from Lubbock: 741 miles
Colorado Buffaloes
Football series record with Texas Tech: 5-5
Folsom Field: 50,200
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 18-13
CU Events Center: 11,100
Location: Boulder, Colorado; population, 105,700
Colorado student population: 35,500
Distance from Lubbock: 562 miles
Utah Utes
Football series record with Texas Tech: 0-2
Rice-Eccles Stadium: 51,400
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 4-3
Jon M. Huntsman Center: 15,000
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah; population, 200,600
Utah student population: 32,800
Distance from Lubbock: 917 miles
UCLA Bruins
Football series record with Texas Tech: 0-0
Rose Bowl: 92,500
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 5-1
Pauley Pavilion: 13,800
Location: Los Angeles, California; population, 3,979,576
UCLA student population: 45,700
Distance from Lubbock: 1,107 miles
USC Trojans
Football series record with Texas Tech: 3-0
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: 77,500
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 1-2
Galen Center: 10,300
Location: Los Angeles, California; population, 3,979,576
USC student population: 48,300
Distance from Lubbock: 1,107 miles
California Golden Bears
Football series record with Texas Tech: 0-1
California Memorial Stadium: 62,500
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 0-0
Haas Pavilion: 11,900
Location: Berkeley, California; population, 121,400
California student population: 42,300
Distance from Lubbock: 1,400 miles
Stanford Cardinal
Football series record with Texas Tech: 0-0
Stanford Stadium: 50,400
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 3-1
Maples Pavilion: 7,300
Location: Stanford, California; population, 13,800
Stanford student population: 17,200
Distance from Lubbock: 1,383 miles
Oregon Ducks
Football series record with Texas Tech: 2-0
Autzen Stadium: 54,000
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 2-1
Matthew Knight Arena: 12,400
Location: Eugene, Oregon; population, 172,600
Oregon student population: 21,800
Distance from Lubbock: 1,805 miles
Oregon State Beavers
Football series record with Texas Tech: 0-1
Reser Stadium: 43,200
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 0-1
Gill Coliseum: 9,600
Location: Corvallis, Oregon; population, 58,900
Oregon State student population: 31,700
Distance from Lubbock: 1,874
Washington Huskies
Football series record with Texas Tech: 2-0
Husky Stadium: 70,100
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 6-3
Hec Edmundson Pavilion: 10,000
Location: Seattle, Washington; population, 753,700
Washington student population: 47,600
Distance from Lubbock: 1,865
Washington State Cougars
Football series record with Texas Tech: 0-2
Martin Stadium: 33,000
Basketball series record with Texas Tech: 1-0
Beasley Coliseum: 11,700
Location: Pullman, Washington; population, 34,500
Washington State student population: 20,300
Distance from Lubbock: 1,684
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Jones Stadium: 60,500
United Supermarkets Arena: 15,100
Location: Lubbock, Texas; population, 258,900
Texas Tech student population: 40,300
