The Texas Tech football team finally has a full ten game list of opponents to play. I hesitate to say 'schedule,' because until the Big 12 says so, nobody knows officially when the Big 12 season will start and what it will for sure look like.

What we do know is that the Red Raiders will open the 2020 season against the Houston Baptist Huskies on September 12th, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Will there be fans? Who knows. Will Alan Bowman take the first snap at quarterback? I'm 78 percent certain he will. Will Texas Tech win? Probably. Why else would you schedule an FCS opponent?

The Red Raiders signed the deal with Houston Baptist after the Big 12 conference adopted the 9+1 schedule last week. The Huskies will be the only non-conference game before starting the Big 12 season against Iowa State -- at least if the Big 12 schedule stays in the same order.

“While we are disappointed we aren’t able to play a full 12-game schedule, we are looking forward to hosting Houston Baptist and five Big 12 games at home this season,” Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said in a press release. "We are close to finalizing our seating plans for Jones AT&T Stadium and should be sharing those details with our fans soon.”

Originally, the Red Raiders were set to play a different FCS opponent in Alabama State, but the SWAC postponed its football season amid concerns over the coronavirus. The Houston Baptist team played a familiar opponent last season in UTEP and were the Miners' only win in 2019.

The familiarity doesn't stop there. Texas Tech has played numerous opponents from the Huskies' Southland conference in the past decade. Current Southland teams that have been on the Red Raiders schedule include Central Arkansas, Stephen F. Austin, Lamar University, and Sam Houston. Texas Tech has also played FCS programs like Montana State and Eastern Washington in the past several years.

This will, however, be the first meeting between Texas Tech and Houston Baptist. The Huskies coaching staff knows plenty about Texas Tech, though. Former Kliff Kingsbury assistant Zach Kittley is coaching the quarterbacks and calling the plays as offensive coordinator, and former Red Raider offensive lineman Jared Kaster is the offensive line coach. The special teams coordinator and running backs coach is also a former Red Raider with a familiar name: Tyler Schovanec.

According to Texas Tech: "The game contract between Texas Tech and Houston Baptist stipulates the Huskies will be required to undergo the same COVID-19 testing procedures that are recommended by the NCAA. Texas Tech will guarantee Houston Baptist a $400,000 payment as part of the one-game contract."

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