Texas Tech to play Texas on Thanksgiving as part of 2013 football schedule

In a big change from the last couple of years, Texas Tech is set to begin its 2013 football campaign on the road at SMU and will end its season with a true road game at Texas on Thanksgiving Day.

The two games are part of a 12-game schedule announced by the Big 12 Conference on Tuesday.

According to a Tech news release, the schedule remains subject to change because the Big 12 has not completed scheduling Labor Day and Thursday night games that are part of the conference's new television agreement.

Along with the Tech-Texas Thanksgiving game, one of the most noticeable additions to the schedule is a second bye week.

"We are very pleased with the 2013 schedule," Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said in the release. "We will get two off weeks during the season and I think they are at times that could really help us. Overall, it's a very challenging schedule, but that is
what you get in the Big 12 Conference."

Consecutive road games at West Virginia and Oklahoma, followed by home games against Oklahoma State and Kansas State, add up to what seems to be the most daunting stretch of Tech's 2013 schedule. The Red Raiders play six games at Jones AT&T Stadium, and
the location of the Baylor game has yet to be determined.

Texas Tech's 2013 schedule:

Aug. 31 at SMU

Sept. 7 Stephen F. Austin

Sept. 14 TCU*

Sept. 21 Texas State

Sept. 28 BYE

Oct. 5 at Kansas*

Oct. 12 Iowa State*

Oct. 19 at West Virginia*

Oct. 26 at Oklahoma*

Nov. 2 Oklahoma State*

Nov. 9 Kansas State*

Nov. 16 Baylor* (location TBD)

Nov. 23 BYE

Nov. 28 at Texas* (Thanksgiving Day)

Dec. 7 BYE

* -- Big 12 Conference game

By Jose Rodriguez — Special to the Star-Telegram