So far in our preview of the 2025 season, we’ve looked at the best individual talents, the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, the Texas Tech football team will face.
With the Red Raiders set to open camp next week, we’ll close the series by examining the top defenses Texas Tech will be put to the test against. The Red Raiders are scheduled to play each of the top three defensive teams the Big 12 had to offer last season. Are those teams set to be stingy once again in 2025?
That has yet to be determined, but for now, here’s the best defensive teams Texas Tech will see this season.
1. Utah Utes
Defense has always been Utah’s calling card under Kyle Whittingham. Over the last seven years, the Utes have held opponents to an average of less than 20 points three times and missed that mark in 2024, giving up 20.7 points. Utah has seven starters back from last season and should benefit from a better offense, which should ease the burden on the defense.
2. Arizona State
Arizona State had a drastic improvement on the defensive end in 2024, going from giving up 31.8 points per game in 2023 to just 22.6 last season. Now the Sun Devils get nine defensive starters back from last year’s Big 12 title team, including first-team all-conference selection Xavion Alford.
3. BYU
BYU also made a grand improvement last season, dropping its points allowed by 10 per game and yards allowed by over 100 per game in 2024 compared to 2023. Sustaining that will be difficult, though, as the Cougars only have four returning starters from last year’s 11-2 team. Much of BYU’s potential hinges on linebacker Jack Kelly.
4. Houston
Another “we’ll see” team is Houston, which bolstered one of the most under-appreciated defenses in the country last season. The Cougars will try to replicate that with seven returning starters but replacing several key players and defensive coordinator Shiel Wood, who is now at Texas Tech.
5. Kansas State
Kansas State wasn’t an amazing defensive team, but it was solid as could be, ranking sixth in the Big 12 with 23.4 points allowed per game. That’s a slight uptick from the 21 points per game range the Wildcats allowed in each of the previous three seasons. Five starters are back for K-State, including linebacker Austin Romaine.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football: Best defenses Red Raiders will face during 2025 season
Reporting by Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
