College Football: 5 second and third-year coaches who’ll contend in 2020

In the wide-open Big 12, the only program that is a contender every season is Oklahoma. The Texas Tech Red Raiders and their second-year head coach Matt Wells is a darkhorse contender this season. Their contention hinges on two things; the health of their quarterback Alan Bowman and the improvement of their defense.

If Bowman can stay healthy, he will have plenty of targets.

Wells and his offensive staff have amassed quite the corps of receivers in Lubbock. TJ Vasher and Erik Ezukanma return to lead the Red Raiders. They add four-star Loic Fouonji and Alabama transfer Chardarius Townsend to an already talented group.

In the Big 12, their wide receiver room rivals Oklahoma’s receiver room. It’s up to the offensive line of the Red Raiders to keep Bowman upright and healthy. If he can stay healthy and SaRodorick Thomson can give the passing game a solid complimentary run game, Texas Tech is going to score a ton of points this season.

Where Texas Tech has to make the biggest leap is defensively. Its defense surrendered 30 points and 480 yards of total offense last season. Wells’ defensive coordinator Keith Patterson has a lot of holes to fix.

This is a defense that is bad at all three levels. The secondary surrendered over 300 yards passing and quarterbacks completed 61 percent of their passes last season. Defensive lineman Eli Howard led the Red Raiders with five sacks; they did not have another defensive lineman with more than three.

The offense is so talented, however, the defense does not have to be lights out; just OK. In the topsy-turvy Big 12, Texas Tech could have a chance.