Texas Tech Football: Complete 2018 preview, prediction

Once again, Kliff Kingsbury finds himself in a make or break year with Texas Tech football. With an experienced defense, can he extend his tenure in Lubbock?

We’ve been saying it for at least three years now, but 2018 may finally be a make or break year for Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech. Four straight average and below average seasons wasn’t enough. Can he survive a fifth? Or will he need to finally show progress?

It seems to depend entirely on circumstances. As long as AD Kirby Holcutt is happy with Kingsbury, he’ll be in Lubbock. 6-7 with a bowl appearance seemed to appease him. I can’t imagine that working again, but I didn’t imagine it working in 2017. It’s really hard to say with this program.

We can say however, with relative certainty that Texas Tech was one bad game from a new coach in 2018. Sitting at 5-6, fresh off a loss to TCU, we could see the end, and it took up residence in Austin. If Tech could upset Texas, Kliff would warm another year. If not, he’d be gone.

Thanks to an incredible performance from Nic Shimonek, and two fourth quarter touchdowns, the Red Raiders pulled it off. That means Kliff gets one more year. The good news is over. The bad news is that for the first time in his tenure, Kliff has to show significant improvement in 2018.

They’ll need a new faces at quarterback and running back to step. Even more precarious, they’ll need David Gibbs to continue fixing this defense, like he showed signs of doing in 2017. Is it possible? Sure. Is it likely? Let’s find out.