[1] The Red Raiders played their home games on the university's campus in Lubbock, Texas at Jones AT&T Stadium, and competed as members of the Big 12 Conference.

Following a 24–35 loss to Baylor in the last game of the 2018 season, head coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired on November 26, 2018.

In the Big 12 preseason media poll, Texas Tech was predicted to finish in seventh in the standings.

[6] Offensive lineman Jack Anderson and defensive back Adrian Frye were selected to the Big 12's preseason all-conference team.

The Matt Wells era of Texas Tech football opened up at home against the Montana State Bobcats.

The only score in the half for the Bobcats came in the second quarter, with the drive starting with a Xavier White fumble that was recovered by Jahque Alleyne.

On the Red Raiders' next offensive drive, Jett Duffey came in at quarterback, going 1/1 for 4 yards before the game ended.

The first score of the game came late in the quarter with a 1-yard run from SaRodorick Thompson to give Texas Tech the lead.

Following the touchdown, Arizona's offense started to pick up momentum and reached the Texas Tech 23-yard line before the end of the quarter.

The momentum for the Wildcats carried into the 2nd quarter, with Khalil Tate finding Stanley Berryhill for a 12-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 7–7 following Lucas Havrisik's extra point attempt.

Arizona would extend its lead two drives later with a 84-yard touchdown run from Tate, but Havrisik missed the extra point.

This was the Red Raiders' first home win over a ranked team since September 12, 2013. at McLane Stadium, Waco, TX

Baylor scored the first touchdown of the game for either team on its first drive of the half with a 4-yard run from Charlie Brewer.

After trailing for most of the half, the Red Raiders scored a touchdown with 1:37 left in regulation to take a 20–17 lead.

Kansas kicker Liam Jones missed the initial game-winning field goal, with Douglas Coleman III recovering the ball for Texas Tech.

Coleman then fumbled the ball, with Kevin Feder recovering it for Kansas at the Texas Tech 14-yard line with 2 seconds left.

The Red Raiders struggled early in the game, with their first drive ending in a Jett Duffey pass that was intercepted by Hyatt Harris near mid-field.

The Red Raiders' would score their first touchdown with a 26-yard pass from Duffey to Dalton Rigdon with 10:15 left in the first half.

The very next play, Texas Tech was intercepted in the end zone by Kansas State's Denzel Goolsby to stop the drive.