This is the seventh post in a twelve-post series that gives a preseason analysis of what to expect from every opponent the Cincinnati Bearcats play this upcoming season. Last time, we looked at the Bearcats' sixth opponent of the season, the West Virginia Mountaineers.
The Bearcats' seventh opponent of the season is the Texas Tech Red Raiders, whom they will be playing on October 24th at Nippert Stadium. This is the homecoming game for the Bearcats, and others have also been calling the matchup the "Brendan Sorsby Bowl."
Texas Tech only lost 20 players to the transfer portal, which may seem like a lot, but really isn't in today's college sports landscape. They added 21 transfers from the portal and another 22 players from high school. The Red Raiders' transfer portal class is highlighted by defensive lineman Mateen Ibirogba from Wake Forest, Interior offensive lineman Jordan Church from Louisville, wide receiver Malcolm Simmons from Auburn, and EDGE Adam Trick from Miami (OH).
The Red Raiders have a lot of key returners from last year's College Football Playoff team. Will Hammond will be the starting quarterback, with Brendan Sorsby being ineligible. Running back Cameron Dickey returns, having run for 1,124 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry last season. J'Koby Williams is also back after running for 868 yards and 6 touchdowns last season.
Texas Tech is also going to have maybe the best linebacking unit in all of college football next season, some people think by a large margin, with Ben Roberts and John Curry both returning and adding Austin Romaine from Kansas State.
Their high school recruiting class is impressive too, bringing in 5-star EDGE LaDamion Guyton, 4-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo, 4-star running back Ace Rowden, and 4-star receiver Chase Campbell. Their incoming high school class was ranked No. 17 nationally by 247 Sports and No. 13 nationally by ESPN.
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