Unlucky No. 7: Texas Tech Snaps Perfect Streak In Game 7 For Second-Straight Year

LUBBOCK -- No. 13 Texas Tech is looking to get its season back on track this weekend in a Top 25-showdown against No. 22 Arizona after taking its first loss to Cincinnati.

In their first-ever trip to Nippert Stadium, the Red Raiders were run over by the Bearcats in a statement 37-24 victory that might have been fueled by a bit of offseason drama between the two schools.

And the final score actually gives Texas Tech more credit, as Cincinnati had already sealed the game at 37-18 before the Red Raiders cashed in their first offensive touchdown with under a minute to play.

While the loss to the Bearcats was stunning for some in the moment, there might have been signs pointing to the collapse dating back to last season.

The 2025 Red Raiders need little introduction, but for those unfamiliar, they helped cement Texas Tech as a bonafide Big 12 powerhouse and a helped usher in a prospective new era of national relevancy.

Led by Heisman-contending linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech boasted an 11-1 regular season record and clinched the program's lone Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff appearance.

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In the midst of all that dominance, there was still one blemish for the Red Raiders before making the postseason trip.

That anomaly on an otherwise perfect campaign came against Arizona State in Tempe on the weekend of Texas Tech's seventh game.

Without starting quarterback Behren Morton, backup Will Hammond was unable to spark any sort of rhythm until late in the matchup and the Sun Devils were able to hold them off 26-22.

Sound familiar?

It was not an exact replica of the pitfall a season prior, especially considering that the Red Raiders were at full strength under center, but the similarities between the two losses are hard to ignore.

In fact, the seventh game has been anything but nice to Texas Tech under Joey McGuire, as the program has dropped the annual matchup in lost four-straight seasons.

There is obviously more at work than a simple number that trips up the Red Raiders time after time, but it appears that this week always happens to coincide with a step back.

With such a known issue with these games and the added layer of the aforementioned drama surrounding Cincinnati, it is strange that more importance was not placed on the outing.

It can also be argued that there is no tangible way to account for the bizarre and borderline superstitious fact. 

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Of course, one result does not determine the season, as last season would later prove in emphatic fashion.

But this year's team still has a long way to go to prove that they are the same as the legendary group that came before them and their first step is getting back into the win column this week.

In the immediate aftermath of its loss a year ago, Texas Tech pummeled Oklahoma State 42-0.

It will almost assuredly not be as lopsided of a result this time around with a ranked Wildcat squad coming to Lubbock with only one loss so far, but the statement can still be the same.

There is still plenty left in front of Texas Tech this season and the Red Raiders will need to shake off another seventh-game slump to achieve these lofty heights once again.