Story by
When is Texas Tech football's bowl game? What to know about Liberty Bowl matchup vs Arkansas
- Story by
- When is Texas Tech football's bowl game? What to know about Liberty Bowl matchup vs Arkansas
The Texas Tech football team will renew an old Southwest Conference rivalry in the Liberty Bowl.
Liberty Bowl officials and the schools involved announced on Sunday that it'll be Texas Tech (8-4, 6-3 in the Big 12) squaring off against Arkansas (6-6, 3-5 in the Southeastern Conference) at 6 p.m. Dec. 27. ESPN will televise the game.
Advertisement
The Red Raiders will be capping their season at the game in Memphis , Tennessee for the second time in four years. It'll be the second time in three years for the Razorbacks and the seventh visit overall. The Razorbacks lost their first three Liberty Bowl appearances and have won their three most recent.
Tech beat its former coach, Mike Leach, and Mississippi State 34-7 in the 2021 Liberty Bowl, and Arkansas edged Kansas 55-53 in triple overtime a year later.
"Texas Tech is proud to accept its 42nd bowl appearance in school history and return to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl," athletics director Kirby Hocutt said in Tech's announcement. "We look forward to bringing Red Raider nation back to the great city of Memphis to showcase our football program in one of college football's most-storied bowl games."
Texas Tech football has long history with Arkansas dating to Southwest Conference days
Texas Tech and Arkansas played annually from 1957 through 1991, but have met only twice since the Razorbacks left the Southwest Conference for the SEC after the 1991 season. The two split a home-and-home series, Arkansas winning in Lubbock 49-28 in 2014 and Tech winning in Fayetteville 35-24 in 2015.
Advertisement
More: How Texas Tech football can make CFP next year: An off-season to-do list
More: Jacob Rodriguez leads Texas Tech football coaches' all-Big 12 honorees
The Red Raiders finished in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Big 12 this season, one game behind four teams who tied at the top with 7-2 conference records. Arizona State beat Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship Saturday in Arlington.
Texas Tech's 2021 triumph in Memphis started a streak of four consecutive bowl appearances for the Red Raiders, who beat Ole Miss 42-25 in the 2022 Texas Bowl and downed California 34-14 in the 2023 Independence Bowl.
Advertisement
Tech went 4-0 during a stretch of four bowl appearances in five seasons from 2009 through 2013, but the Red Raiders have never won bowls four years in a row.
"We are looking forward to bringing the Red Raiders to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl," Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire said in Tech's announcement. "This is a tremendous opportunity for our program to possibly reach nine wins and end our season on a strong note against an Arkansas program we respect. We hope to see Red Raider nation take over the city of Memphis and paint Beale Street and the Liberty Bowl in scarlet and black."
Arkansas football squad led by skill-position players who hail from Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
Arkansas, under fifth-year coach Sam Pittman, tied for 11th place in the 16-team SEC. The Razorbacks' biggest victory of the season came on Oct. 5, when they rallied at home to beat then-No. 4 Tennessee 19-14, dealing the Volunteers their first loss. Razorbacks fans rushed the field.
Advertisement
Arkansas junior quarterback Taylen Green has passed for 2,813 yards and 13 touchdowns, and senior wide receiver Andrew Armstrong has caught 78 passes for 1,140 yards and one TD. Senior running back Ja'Quinden Jackson has rushed for 790 yards and 15 TDs. All three are Texans, Green from Lewisville, Jackson from Duncanville and Armstrong from Dallas Bishop Dunne.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks (28) runs with the ball during the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football paired against Arkansas in Liberty Bowl
