Breaking Down the Week 4 Matchup Between No. 17 Texas Tech and No. 16 Utah
The stage is set for an exciting Week 4 matchup between No. 17 Texas Tech and No. 16 Utah. The game is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Both teams come into the game with a 3-0 record, making this a highly anticipated matchup.
The last meeting between these two teams took place on Sept. 15, 1973. This week’s game promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to make a statement in the college football world.
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The game will be broadcast on FOX, giving fans across the country the opportunity to tune in and watch the action unfold.
What’s at Stake?
Although it’s only Week 4 of a 12-week campaign, the result of Saturday’s game holds significant College Football Playoff and Heisman implications. The winning team will rival No. 12 Iowa State as the top Big 12 team in the nation going forward. The winning team’s quarterback could also crack the top-10 in Heisman odds, barring a strong showing. On the other hand, the losing team could fall out of the AP Top 25 and face a longer road to playoff eligibility.
Both teams are favored in each of their remaining matchups, excluding contests against BYU. This means that winning out for a shot at the Big 12 Championship is still a possibility, even with a loss. However, this would require near perfection in a conference with four additional contenders.
Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton (2) looks to pass against Kent State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas.
Justin Rex / AP
When Texas Tech Has the Ball
The ball will fly long and often on Saturday in the mountain air. Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton is nearing the 1,000 passing-yard mark in seven quarters of play, and his receivers have yet to drop a pass he’s thrown. However, reaching the end zone will not come as often as it did in nonconference play.
Texas Tech leads the nation in scoring, averaging 58 points per game, while the Utah defense is allowing 8.3 points per game. Neither side of the spectrum will be as extreme, but Texas Tech will need to complete its drives with seven points, not three, to keep pace with Utah’s offense.
Offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich noted the lack of run game production in Texas Tech’s win over Oregon State would not hinder the carry count. However, there is no room for trial and error on Saturday. Running back J’Koby Williams will play a large part of the game in motion and on wheel routes or screen plays, while running backs Cameron Dickey and Adam Hill will be called on in short yardage plays and end zone-heavy packages to cap off a drive.
When Utah Has the Ball
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire expects nearly every NFL team to be represented on Saturday to scout the battle in the trenches. Utah offensive tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu have drawn first-round draft projections. Texas Tech outside linebackers David Bailey and Romello Height are both vying for similar respect.
Utah’s Devon Dampier is a dual-threat quarterback, so escaping the pocket is nothing new. However, Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood already confirmed a quarterback spy will be in place on Saturday. Dampier has had success escaping despite a spy on multiple occasions, with a team-leading 198 rushing yards to his name already.
The Red Raiders are tied-for-second in rush defense, so it will be a combination of Dampier and running backs Wayshawn Parker and NaQuari Rogers to prevent Utah from becoming one-dimensional early in the contest. Parker, who transferred from Washington State, was held to 69 rushing yards in 2024 when Texas Tech traveled to Pullman, Washington.
Prediction
Despite it being early in the season, Saturday has a must-win feel. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has been in these moments for 21 years with the Utes, but Morton has thrived in each of these moments throughout his career.
Eclipsing 400 yards through the air is a high standard to keep for Morton in a ranked matchup, but Leftwich is an Air Raid coach with the keys to do whatever he wants. Both quarterbacks will exchange blows through the first three quarters with a turnover a piece. But, with the game tied in the waning minutes of the fourth, Morton and tight end Terrence Carter Jr. will connect for a 50-plus yard catch and run.
Final score: Texas Tech 38, Utah 31
Find more Texas Tech coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Conclusion
The Week 4 matchup between No. 17 Texas
