Game time set for Texas Tech football's Week 4 game vs Sam Houston - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

The Big 12 Conference released TV designations and kickoff times for its full Week 4 slate, and Tech's matchup with the Bearkats landed the early slot. That means another home game at Jones AT&T Stadium starting well before lunch, a familiar rhythm for fans who've learned to plan tailgates around whatever window the conference hands out.

Early kickoffs change the whole day around Raiders games. Folks tailgating near the stadium will need to get out the door earlier than they might for an afternoon or night game, and anyone grabbing breakfast tacos or coffee near campus before heading over should factor in the earlier crowd. Bars and restaurants around the Depot District that usually fill up for later kickoffs will feel a different rhythm too, since fans coming off an 11 a.m. Game tend to spill out for lunch and afternoon drinks instead of dinner.

The TNT/truTV broadcast also means Tech's Week 4 game reaches a different cable audience than a typical ESPN or Fox slot, which could matter for how the game gets seen outside Lubbock.

An 11 a.m. Kickoff sounds early until you remember Texas Tech has played in worse heat at later hours in September.