The City of Midland has announced that the Texas Tech University (TTU) athletic department has canceled its football team’s spring game at Astound Broadband Stadium, which was originally scheduled for April 20. The decision to cancel the game was made due to forecasted storms in the Permian Basin.
Local Permian Basin stations KMID and KPEJ have reported an 80 percent chance of rain in the Midland area on Saturday. According to these stations, the inclement weather is expected to coincide with many of the pregame festivities and persist until late afternoon.
The kickoff for the game was initially set for 1 p.m., as reported by KMID and KPEJ. Texas Tech's head coach, Joey McGuire, expressed disappointment over the cancellation in their report. He stated that while it wasn't a decision they wanted to make, it was necessary given the circumstances.
In lieu of the canceled game, TTU issued a press release stating that a closed scrimmage in Lubbock will conclude spring practices. Despite similar stormy weather forecasts for Lubbock, the Red Raiders plan to hold this scrimmage - their fifteenth and final practice of the spring - indoors at the Sports Performance Center. This event will not be open to public attendance.
In 2023, under McGuire's leadership in his second year as head coach, TTU achieved a 7-6 record including a 5-4 showing in Big XII Conference play. The Red Raiders' 2024 season is set to commence with a home game against Abilene Christian on August 31.