'Every Game Counts!' Red Raiders Are In Playoff Mode As West Virginia Is Next

The Texas Tech Red Raiders used a new-look run game offensively to rebound from their first loss of the season and pick up a ranked victory at home last weekend.

Now, under the late-night lights of Galaxy Stadium, it will be their defense against the run that will likely determine if they can earn another win to get closer to their Big 12 championship aspirations.

Tech came in at No. 15 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, meaning a conference title is likely the Red Raiders' clearest path to return to the CFP bracket. This weekend's contest against undefeated Utah and one-loss BYU will go a long way in outlining where Texas Tech falls among the conference's elite.

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Defensive tackle Mateen Ibirogba said it is "totally" a playoff-like environment in the Tech locker room heading into Saturday's matchup with West Virginia at 8:30 p.m. CT in Lubbock.

"Every game counts," he said in media availability this week. "So, we just have to bring our A game and respect everybody."

No. 3 Utah and No. 9 BYU are meeting in their historic rivalry for the first time as top-10-ranked foes. Tech does not play either school this season, so a win for the Cougars could really complicate the top of the conference standings with three teams each with one loss, and Tech being ranked third among those in the polls.

The Mountaineers rumble into town with the nation's fifth-best rushing attack, averaging over 260 yards rushing per game. Dynamic quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (163 carries, 836 yards) has rushed nearly as often and as successfully as West Virginia's starting running back, Cam Cook (186 carries, 923 yards).

Hawkins, who transferred to Morgantown after two seasons at Oklahoma, has thrown the ball four times less than he's rushed it.

The Red Raiders are also coming off an offensive game plan that featured a mobile quarterback. Thomas Castellanos replaced Will Hammond and was used in a variety of designed rushing packages that added to J'Koby Williams' career-high 165 yards on the ground.

Tech ran for 330 yards against Arizona, but also holds the Big 12's best rushing defense, allowing just 94.9 yards on the ground entering the week. The Wildcats rushed for just 12 yards last week.

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Ibirogba says defending the opposing team's rush comes down to understanding the opponent on a weekly basis and keeping a consistent level of discipline and energy.

"We just gotta do our jobs, stay in our gaps," Ibirogba said about stopping the run. "They're (West Virginia) a high-effort team, they love running the ball ... so we have to run to the ball and have high effort."