Upcoming Texas Tech Red Raiders Football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Texas Tech football in brief
Texas Tech Red Raiders football tickets get you into Galaxy Stadium on the Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock, a 60,000-seat stadium known for decades as Jones AT&T Stadium. The home schedule usually runs from early September through late November, and the stadium is one of the largest college venues in Texas.
The program played its first season in 1925 as the Matadors, a name chosen to match the campus's Spanish Renaissance architecture. A Los Angeles sportswriter's description of the team's scarlet satin uniforms in 1934 gave rise to "Red Raiders," which became official in 1937. Texas Tech won nine Border Conference titles, joined the Southwest Conference for play in 1960, and became a charter member of the Big 12 in 1996. Its 12th conference championship came in the 2025 Big 12 Championship Game, the program's first Big 12 title.
The modern brand was built on passing offense. Mike Leach, the program's all-time wins leader, coached from 2000 through 2009 and made the Red Raiders a fixture in bowl games. Quarterbacks Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, Graham Harrell and Patrick Mahomes all won the Sammy Baugh Trophy, and receiver Michael Crabtree won the Biletnikoff Award in back-to-back seasons, a first for the award.
Galaxy Stadium: the renamed Jones
The stadium opened on November 29, 1947, as Clifford B. and Audrey Jones Stadium, named for the university's third president and his wife. It became Jones SBC Stadium in 2000 and Jones AT&T Stadium in 2006. After AT&T declined to renew its naming deal, Texas Tech announced on July 17, 2026, a 15-year agreement with Galaxy Digital, and the venue became Galaxy Stadium. Many fans still call it "The Jones." The playing surface is Cody Campbell Field.
- Layout: the field runs north to south and sits about 30 feet below street level, so you enter at the top of the lower bowl and walk down to your row.
- West side: the main press box building, with suites and club seating, completed in 2003.
- East side: a Spanish Renaissance facade with additional suites and club seats, finished in 2010.
- North end zone: a large high-definition video board installed for 2013, framed by a colonnade.
- South end zone: a premium seating and athletics building constructed from late 2022 into 2024, topped by a new version of the Double T scoreboard, a stadium landmark since 1978.
Capacity figures vary by source; Wikipedia lists 60,229, and the stadium's record crowd is 61,836, against Oklahoma State in 2013.
Where to sit for a Red Raiders game
- Best view: sideline seats between the 30-yard lines, roughly 15 to 35 rows up. Because the bowl is sunk below grade, even mid-level rows feel close.
- Sun and shade: the west side, under and around the press box, keeps the afternoon sun behind you. The east stands face west into the sun for day games. This matters most for early-season afternoon kickoffs.
- Atmosphere: the student section is large, with 13,750 student seats across 14 sections at last published count, and ESPN has named it the best student section in the Big 12. Seats nearby are loud and on their feet all game.
- Best value: end zone and corner seats. In the south end zone, the Double T scoreboard sits behind you; in the north end zone, the main video board is overhead, so replays are easier to see from the south end.
- Premium: club and suite seating on the west, east and south sides is sold mainly through season packages.
Rivalries and the games that pack the stadium
- Baylor: Texas Tech's most-played opponent, a series that began in 1929 and has been played every year since 1956.
- TCU: the West Texas Championship, played for the Saddle Trophy. The series dates to 1926, and the trophy was revived in 2017.
- Houston: an old Southwest Conference rivalry renewed now that both schools are in the Big 12.
- Texas and Texas A&M: historic rivalries that went dormant after both schools moved to the SEC. Any future meeting would draw heavy demand.
The biggest home crowds usually come for a ranked Big 12 opponent, Baylor or TCU, homecoming, and night games. The 2013 Oklahoma State game set the stadium attendance record. Texas Tech sold out its season tickets for the first time in 2014, and strong seasons have pushed demand well beyond what the university sells for single games.
The Masked Rider, the Goin' Band and gameday in Lubbock
- The Masked Rider: the school's oldest mascot and the first official mounted mascot in the country. Riders began circling the field before games in 1936, and today the Masked Rider, guns up, leads the team onto the field at every home game. It became an official mascot in 1954 at the Gator Bowl.
- The Goin' Band from Raiderland: the 450-member band, dressed in matador-style uniforms with capes and gaucho hats, earned its name in 1926 as the first college band to travel to an away game, a trip to Fort Worth for the TCU game partly financed by Will Rogers.
- Raider Red: the costumed mascot, created in 1971 from a character drawn by alumnus Dirk West.
Tailgating starts early. As of the 2026 season, football parking lots open at 7:30 a.m. on game days, RV areas open the Friday evening before, and Citibus runs a gameday shuttle beginning three hours before kickoff. Wes Kittley Drive of Champions closes to vehicles three hours before kickoff.
How Texas Tech football tickets work
The best sideline seats and reserved parking are tied to season tickets and donor giving through the Red Raider Club, with higher giving levels unlocking better locations. Students receive a large allocation through the university. Single-game tickets from the athletic department are typically limited for the most popular games.
That is why the resale market is the main route into big games in Lubbock. Season holders release seats for games they cannot attend,. Demand peaks for ranked opponents and rivalry games, and softer non-conference dates often see prices ease closer to kickoff. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Clear bag policy and gameday checklist
As of the 2026 season, Texas Tech's clear bag policy allows a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC tote up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, and a small clutch about the size of a hand. Backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags and diaper bags are not allowed. Seat cushions and seatbacks must be 16 inches wide or less with no armrests or pockets, and blankets are allowed in cold weather. Read the current Texas Tech clear bag policy before you go.
Lubbock is a long drive from other major Texas cities, so out-of-town fans should book hotels early for high-demand weekends and plan for the gameday road closures around campus.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jones AT&T Stadium now called Galaxy Stadium?
Yes. AT&T did not renew its naming rights, and on July 17, 2026, Texas Tech announced a 15-year naming deal with Galaxy Digital. The stadium is now Galaxy Stadium, though many fans still call it The Jones.
How many people does Galaxy Stadium hold?
Wikipedia lists capacity at 60,229. The record crowd is 61,836, set against Oklahoma State in 2013.
Which side of the stadium is in the shade?
The field runs north to south, so the west side keeps the afternoon sun behind you. The east stands face the sun for day games.
What is the Masked Rider?
The Masked Rider is Texas Tech's oldest mascot, a rider in a gaucho hat who leads the team onto the field on horseback at every home game. It became an official mascot in 1954.
What bags can I bring to a Texas Tech football game?
As of 2026, a clear tote up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, and a hand-sized clutch. Check Texas Tech's current policy before the game.