RV/No. 16 Tech, RV Pepperdine play to spirted 1-1 draw

The match had the kind of late drama that keeps people talking. Pepperdine broke through in the 78th minute, ending a clean sheet for Tech through the first two games of 2026. Three minutes and 24 seconds later, Taylor Zdrojewski answered with a header to level the score and keep the Red Raiders unbeaten.

Tech came in riding a 2-0 win over Boise State just four days earlier, a match that itself nearly broke the Walker attendance record. Thursday's crowd pushed past that mark entirely, which tells you something about how fast interest in this program is growing. Both Texas Tech and Pepperdine entered the night receiving votes in the national rankings, making this a legitimate top-25 caliber matchup.

For people who follow the Red Raiders closely, the bigger story might be the mentality. Conceding a goal in the 78th minute of a nationally watched game and responding in under four minutes is not an accident. Texas Tech sits at 2-0-2 on the season without a loss.