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On paper, it might not appear to be the biggest of tests, but Saturday’s matchup against Kansas State could very well present the greatest psychological challenge for the Red Raiders as they head down the stretch.
How do you vanquish any thoughts of overconfidence on the heels of a 42–0 rout of Oklahoma State, and not glance ahead to the looming November 8 showdown with No. 10 BYU?
Sandwiched between those realities sits Kansas State, led by head coach Chris Klieman, who has guided the Wildcats to five bowl appearances since replacing the legendary Bill Snyder in 2019. It’s that steady résumé that earned K-State preseason top-20 billing in several polls, often ranked ahead of Texas Tech.
Manhattan, Kansas remains one of the toughest venues in college football. With that backdrop, and the Wildcats riding a two-game winning streak, Sporting News caught up with Chris Level, publisher of RedRaiderSports.com, to discuss the importance of staying locked in.
“I think zero concerns with looking ahead,” Level said. “This isn’t a must-win game, but it’s pretty darn close if you want to reach Arlington for the conference title game. Had they not lost to Arizona State, I’d buy into this theory a little bit more, but not as it stands now.”
When asked what matchup intrigues him most, Level pointed to the return of quarterback Behren Morton.
“I’m genuinely curious to see how Behren plays after missing a few weeks,” he said. “He’s talked a lot about getting the ball to his playmakers and letting them do their jobs instead of forcing the issue. Kansas State has an opportunistic defense, so Morton will have to be careful.”
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) October 29, 2025So will the Red Raiders — if they hope to keep their Big 12 title and College Football Playoff dreams alive when bids are announced on December 7.
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