GAME 3: Texas Tech
Saturday, Sept. 19, 7:00 P.M. (ABC)
Series Record: Texas 43 - Texas Tech 15
Last: @ #6 Texas Tech 39, #1 Texas 33 (2008)

IT’S GAME of the Year, part one.The Red Raiders ruined everything for the Longhorns last year. One play was all that stood between Texas and a perfect regular season and shot at the national title. However, Michael Crabtree threw salsa all over Texas’ potential masterpiece.

ABC requested that this game be moved earlier in the season so that it can get the primetime treatment. Though the players, especially for Tech, are different, the coaches and the system are the same. It’ll be the biggest game of the year — at least for a few weeks.

Detron Lewis

KEY QUESTION: Can Texas’ secondary slow down Tech? It didn’t a year ago, as the Red Raiders threw for 474 yards and calmly marched down the field for the winning score in the final minutes. The Longhorn secondary was young last year, but Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon have a year under their belts, and the excuses are out the door.

On the other side, Graham Harrell and Crabtree are gone, but by now does it really matter who the players are? Mike Leach’s system has had players of all kinds, and it continues to churn out huge numbers. Taylor Potts is the new quarterback and looks just like Harrell, Sonny Cumbie, Cody Hodges or any of the other names that have come in and thrown for 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns.

OPPOSING PLAYER TO WATCH: Wide receiver Detron Lewis. It’s not often that a receiver who catches 76 balls for 913 yards is viewed as a complementary part, but that’s the reality of Tech’s system. Lewis will be the new go-to guy, like Crabtree was. He’ll at least appreciate the chances — only three of his catches went for scores versus 19 for Crabtree.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Same as any UT-Tech game: lots of points and lots of drama. This game figures to get the full attention of the nation, and the two sides rarely disappoint. Just say it’s the first one to 45.