The Texas Tech Red Raiders gained their rather unique nickname in 1937 when a sportswriter who was particularly impressed by the brightness of their red uniforms coined the name in his newspaper. Prior to that, the team had been known as the Matadors, which seems a good name for a football team until you realize that the main job of a matador is to jump out of the way when a big burly animal runs at them (might be okay for offense, but not so much on defense!). Despite being overshadowed at times by some of the better known teams in Texas, the Red Raiders have been a successful team over the years within a very competitive conference. The team has won 11 conference titles, with the majority of these coming in the years immediately after the move to the Jones AT&T Stadium, in which the Red Raiders won 7 conference titles between 1947 and 1955 as well as the Sun Bowl and Gator Bowl (though their overall Bowl record isn’t so great, at 16-23-1). Recent years have not seen a return to that level of success, but the Red Raiders have remained competitive, finishing in the upper positions of the conference if not quite winning it (their last conference win was in 1994). 

How can I get cheap tickets to Texas Tech Red Raiders football games?

Even in Texas, where every mid-sized town seems to sport a college football team of some sort, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are still a big draw in Lubbock, with fans driving from all over to come to games at Jones AT&T Stadium. Getting a hold of tickets can therefore sometimes be a bit of a challenge, especially for Bowl games, conference deciders, or big rivalry matchups (see below). Visit our TicketX listings for the cheapest tickets to Texas Tech Red Raiders football games. You can buy the cheapest Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets with the lowest commission fees from TicketX with just one click! Use our handy stadium seating chart to compare different seating options in terms of price and location. Read more about our tips on "How to Get Cheap Raider Tickets" on TicketX Magazine.

Texas Tech Red Raiders football rivalries

The Texas Tech Red Raiders have many long-standing rivalries against some of the strongest teams in their region. Their most intense in-state rivalries are with the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies. Games against the Aggies have always been particularly heated, including several fights and altercations between players, coaches, and fans over the years. The Red Raiders also have historic rivalries with smaller Texas college teams such as the Baylor Bears, TCU Horned Frogs, and the Houston Cougars. They also have a healthy rivalry with the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Are Texas Tech Red Raiders football games exciting?

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are a huge ticket draw in the small college town of Lubbock, with students, alumni, and other local fans heading to campus for tailgating parties to eat, drink, and socialize in the buildup to each home game. When game time comes, fans fill the stands clad in their scarlet red to sing “Fight, Raiders, Fight” accompanied by the Goin’ Band from Raiderland marching band. The team’s two mascots are the Masked Rider (similar to Zorro), who rides his horse with guns blazing into the sky to lead the team onto the field at home games, and Raider Red, a more family-friendly cowboy with an oversized scarlet mustache. Buy your Texas Tech Red Raiders football tickets today from TicketX and join the fun!