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Texas Tech handles a sloppy Colorado team on the road, covers and heads into the bye week at 5-0. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down a dominant defensive performance and a four-takeaway night, why the offense is still a big question mark, and how Friday's Thomas Castellanos news and Cam Dickey's high ankle sprain changed the game plan. Plus: the wild story of a 25-page Colorado playbook found at the team hotel bar, and whether the first scripted drive matched what was on the pages. They also look at what Texas Tech needs to figure out during the bye week.

Reports suggest the College Football Playoff could expand to 24 teams as soon as next year — and Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down what that would actually mean for Texas Tech. They discuss how a bigger field changes the margin for error, why realignment could rear its head again if the pending college sports bill doesn't pass, and which ACC programs the Big 12 should be eyeing if the conference landscape shifts again. Plus: Mike Tomlin's surprising video game addiction, and a quick preview of Saturday's trip to Colorado — including why Texas Tech shouldn't lose unless they help the Buffaloes.

Texas Tech heads to Boulder to face a Colorado team that's struggling to find any rhythm on offense. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down why this matchup feels different from Texas Tech's other tests this season, what's gone wrong for the Buffaloes under Deion Sanders, and why a win alone might not be enough — Texas Tech needs to actually look good doing it. Plus: a look at the UCF-Houston jersey drama, and whether the Big 12 is as strong as the rankings suggest.

Texas Tech gets past Sam Houston State, but Aaron Dickens and Chris Level explain why it was uglier than it needed to be — a close game at the half against an outmatched opponent, and four games into the season, still no complete performance to point to. They break down what went wrong, what still has them encouraged despite the sloppiness, and what needs to change fast with a trip to Colorado on deck. Plus: a look around the rest of the Big 12, including Oklahoma State's big win and a TCU program that's spiraling.

Can the Big 12 actually get two teams into the College Football Playoff? Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down the conference's reputation problem, why Texas Tech's path likely still runs through winning in Arlington, and which teams — Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Kansas State, and others — could climb the rankings and help the league's case down the stretch. Plus: why power rankings are mostly meaningless noise, a look at this weekend's other meaningful Big 12 games (Iowa State-Utah, Colorado-Baylor), and a celebration of Texas Tech Hall of Fame inductees Louis Vasquez and Joe Filani.

Texas Tech is a 35-point favorite over Sam Houston State this weekend, but Aaron Dickens and Chris Level explain why that spread might be misleading. They break down why the Bearkats are one of the most underrated teams in the country against the spread, why their pass-heavy attack could actually find some yards and where Texas Tech should have distinct advantages. Plus: Oregon State is for real, the Cash Cleveland breakout game that has them wondering if the offensive line found something at left guard, and which young players deserve extended run if the game gets out of hand on Saturday.

Texas Tech survives a wild 28-26 win over Houston at a sold-out Galaxy Stadium, and Aaron Dickens and Chris Level believe something finally clicked for the Red Raiders. They break down their theory that Thomas Castellanos starting fueled Will Hammond's best performance of the season, why they think this Houston team may be even better than last year's BYU squad, and the receivers, running backs, and defensive players who stepped up in the biggest game of the year so far. Plus: the atmosphere at Galaxy Stadium, what the win means heading into a lighter stretch of the schedule, and the next steps we could see from this Texas Tech team.

Texas Tech is a trendy upset candidate heading into Friday night's showdown with Houston, and Aaron Dickens and Chris Level explain why the stakes are enormous either way. They break down why this matchup could come down to special teams and what to expect from Will Hammond and the offense against a Houston defense that blitzes heavily. Plus: the latest injury and availability news for Trey White, Terrence Carter, and Brendan Jordan, and why Joey McGuire says this is maybe the best team Texas Tech has faced in years.

Texas Tech needs more from Will Hammond heading into Houston — and it's not what you'd expect. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down the shift in mentality from "protect the ball, take the safe play" to needing Hammond to push the ball downfield and take chances. Plus: Joey McGuire's comments calling Houston "the best team we've played in two years," a look around the rest of the Big 12 through two weeks and some odd press conference clips from around the country.

Texas Tech survives at Oregon State, but Aaron Dickens and Chris Level aren't convinced this team has figured out who it is yet. They break down a concerning lack of pass rush from the defensive front, an offense still searching for an identity, and a string of costly self-inflicted penalties that nearly turned a win into a disaster. Plus: Thoughts on Will Hammond's game, more Thomas Castellanos usage and what needs to change fast with a short week before Friday night's showdown against Houston.

Texas Tech hits the road again, this time to Corvallis to face Oregon State — a team that lit up Houston through the air in Week 1. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down what has them concerned about the Beavers' passing attack, whether Tech's defensive front can force Oregon State into a one-dimensional game plan, and what a rainy Saturday forecast could mean for both offenses. Plus: a look at the rest of the Big 12's marquee non-conference matchups this weekend — including Arizona State-Texas A&M, Oregon-Oklahoma State, and BYU-Arizona — and why the results could shape the league's perception (and Texas Tech's own tiebreaker scenarios) down the road.

Joey McGuire addresses Texas Tech's offensive struggles from Week 1, admitting the team needs to take more shots downfield and revealing plans to get Thomas Castellanos more involved once the offense reaches the red zone. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level also break down the Big 12's decision to quietly withdraw its federal lawsuit against Texas Tech. Plus: a look ahead to Saturday's matchup with Oregon State, including what to watch for from a sneaky Beavers squad.

Texas Tech grinds out a 33-10 win over Abilene Christian with a flat performance that leaves plenty to nitpick. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down the same red zone issues and special teams breakdowns that plagued the Red Raiders last season and Will Hammond's performance (and the pick that flipped the game's momentum). Plus: The postgame admission that the offensive game plan was intentionally vanilla and FS1's Godwin's Law moment.

College Football Playoff expansion is inching closer and closer and, if it happens, the Big 12 could shake up its regular season in a major way. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down the latest reporting. Plus: Previewing Texas Tech's season opener against Abilene Christian, including Graham Harrell's return to Lubbock, and a run-through of the first major weekend of the college football season.

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire says transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos – fourth on the depth chart – could see the field in every game this season. Aaron Dickens and Chris Level break down what that actually means: how Castellanos' skill set differs from Will Hammond, what practice reps might look like during game week and why the "most experienced backup QB in America" tag might actually undersell him. Plus: Texas Tech's home winning streak and some tinfoil-hat speculation on the reasoning behind McGuire's viral USC comments. The Matador Report is part of the Ramar Sports Podcast Network. New episodes drop three times a week. -------------- Catch all our updates and editorials at https://doubletsportsnetwork.com and on our Double T 97.3 mobile app. Sign up for our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e57de768188d/sign-up-for-the-double-t-sports-network-newsletter