The Texas Tech Red Raiders entered Saturday as one of the biggest surprises of the college football season, sitting No. 6 in the country with a 9-1 overall record (6-1 Big 12).
A key driver of the Red Raiders’ surge has been senior inside linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, the defensive anchor and a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate.
So when he appeared on the injury report this week with a minor practice setback and was tagged questionable for the UCF matchup, fans across Lubbock braced for the worst.
However, just before kickoff on Saturday, Texas Tech confirmed that Rodriguez, along with QB Behren Morton and DL Lee Hunter, were all cleared to play after being listed as probable coming into the day.
Read More: LSU Makes Final Decision on QB Garrett Nussmeier Before Arkansas Game
Rodriguez arrived at Texas Tech in 2022 after transferring from Virginia, where he played multiple offensive positions as a true freshman, logging 65 receiving yards on eight catches, along with 10 carries for 56 rushing yards and a touchdown.
He soon transitioned to linebacker in Lubbock and developed into an All-Big 12, every-down defender.
Rodriguez’s breakout season came in 2024, finishing with 127 tackles, five sacks, four passes defended, three forced fumbles, and one interception.
Somehow, he’s arguably been even more dominant this year, recording 88 tackles, five passes defended, seven forced fumbles, three interceptions, and a sack through the first 10 games, with two games still left on the schedule.
This includes multiple performances with double-digit tackles (11 vs. Utah, 14 vs. Kansas, 12 vs. ASU, 10 vs. Oklahoma State, and 14 vs. BYU).
Read More: Nick Saban Sends Stern Warning to Notre Dame Ahead of Pittsburgh Showdown
The availability update arrives with Texas Tech chasing pivotal College Football Playoff seeding; UCF (4-5) travels to Jones AT&T Stadium as a heavy underdog.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, with Texas Tech favored by 23.5 points with a 48.5-point over/under, giving the Knights an implied point total of just 12.5 points.
Rodriguez’s availability secures the Red Raiders’ best chance at a major win and high playoff seed; without him, schematic compromises and depth concerns would have loomed large late in the year.
