The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Texas-Texas Tech

Texas55-18Texas Tech
Power Program I#9 of 138–Power Program III#24 of 138▲
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Texas leads the all-time series 55-18. They've met 73 times since 1928. Texas once took 8 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Texas
Win total
9.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -21
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe Arch Manning is being unfairly blamed for Texas's struggles
Texas sucks. Arch Manning is not the savior. It’s like he doesn’t know the playbook. He misses tons of reads.
Verified verbatim
Texas Tech
Win total
10.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+8
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +17
What fans are saying · program direction
fans believe Cody Campbell is a divisive figure
Cody Campbell isn't TTU's biggest donor by liquidity and total donation. Just the BoR and spokesperson, and the rest aren't in agreement w/Campbell's talking points
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1928–2023

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeTexasTexas Techevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Texas won, gray: Texas Tech won)19401960198020002020

The identity war

Texas Tech was the more pass-heavy program — then Texas took it over.

Texas Tech threw it more in 18 of 18 seasons, 2004–2021. Since 2022, Texas has led 2 of 5. Real exceptions: 2022, 2023, 2024.

more passmore runTexasTexas Tech2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262022Texas Tech 5.8 ptsTexas Tech won 37-34
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Texas by 51 in 1999. The biggest crowd, 102,452, was in 2023.

The coaching duels

Mack Brown vs Mike Leach8-2
Darrell Royal vs J.T. King7-2
John Mackovic vs Spike Dykes3-3
Darrell Royal vs Jim Carlen4-1
Fred Akers vs Jerry Moore5-0
David McWilliams vs Spike Dykes3-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
201-83
Texas leads
1st-rounders
39-7
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
TexasTexas Tech
1960s5-3
1970s24-9
1980s36-12
1990s26-9
2000s39-19
2010s29-11
2020s42-20

Best picks, either side

1978Earl Campbell Running Back · Houston OilersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1982Kenneth Sims Defensive Tackle · New England PatriotsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1980Johnny "Lam" Jones Wide Receiver · New York JetsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2001Leonard Davis Offensive Tackle · Arizona CardinalsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2026David Bailey Defensive Edge · New York JetsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1973Jerry Sisemore Offensive Tackle · Philadelphia EaglesRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2006Vince Young Quarterback · Tennessee TitansRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2002Mike Williams Offensive Tackle · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Texas1.07×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2023Texas57-7
2022Texas Tech37-34Texas — decided by 3
2021Texas70-35
2020Texas63-56
2019Texas49-24
2018Texas41-34
2017Texas Tech27-23
2016Texas45-37
2015Texas Tech48-45Texas — decided by 3
2014Texas34-13
2013Texas41-16
2012Texas31-22
2011Texas52-20
2010Texas24-14

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Texas’s chance to win through that meeting. Texas is 2-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2022: loud.

2023Texas 57-7Texas won 57-7 vs Texas Tech. Chance to win started at 86%, low 86%, high better than 99%.Busy
2022Texas Tech 37-34Texas lost 34-37 at Texas Tech. Chance to win started at 74%, low under 1%, high 96%.Loud
2021Texas 70-35Texas won 70-35 vs Texas Tech. Chance to win started at 76%, low 71%, high better than 99%.
2020Texas 63-56Texas won 63-56 at Texas Tech. Chance to win started at 85%, low 3%, high better than 99%.
2019Texas 49-24Texas won 49-24 vs Texas Tech. Chance to win started at 76%, low 25%, high better than 99%.
2018Texas 41-34Texas won 41-34 at Texas Tech. Chance to win started at 49%, low 25%, high better than 99%.
“They're so prepped for kids on the field”
A Texas Tech fan

Meetings with their own story page

3 meetings in our archive, 2018 to 2022.