Texas Tech Gets Their Opponent For the Big 12 SEC Challenge
The Big 12/SEC Challenge in Basketball has been active for eight seasons now and the Red Raiders have had their fair share of success in the matchups. The Red Raiders are 5-3 against the SEC in the challenge and have played well even in the losses.
The annual event has been held every season since 2013 and features 10 true home games for all the Big 12 teams against a selection of SEC schools. In 2022, the games will be held on January 29th.
There are several intriguing matchups, like Rick Barnes returning to Austin with his Tennessee squad after coaching the Longhorns before Shaka Smart. Kentucky at Kansas and Baylor at Alabama will also likely be ranked matchups.
That brings us to Texas Tech's opponent: Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs are Texas Tech's 7th different SEC opponent in the Big 12 SEC Challenge. The Red Raiders have played Alabama, Arkansas twice, Auburn, LSU twice, Kentucky, and South Carolina. The Red Raiders are 5-3 against the SEC in the Challenge. Texas Tech is 3-1 at the United Super Markets Arena with their only loss coming against Kentucky in overtime.
The Big 12 is 44-35 the Challenge and took home bragging rights four times. The SEC has claimed victory twice and the challenge has ended in a tie twice.
Texas Tech last played Mississippi State in Puerto Rico in 2015, beating the Bulldogs 74-72. The Red Raiders also beat the team in 2008 77-73 at a neutral site in New Jersey.
The roster for Texas Tech will largely be playing in their first SEC/Big 12 challenge.