Texas Tech faces a Houston team missing five players in Big 12 opener - Red Raiders Wire

The Cougars list wide receivers Muizz Tounkara and Jeffrey Strozier Jr., defensive back Mudassir Abdullah, linebacker Bryson Castile, and defensive lineman Quindario Lee as out for the matchup at Galaxy Stadium. Three more Houston players carry questionable tags heading into kickoff, wide receiver Stephon Johnson, running back JaShon Ridgle, and defensive back Myles Rowser. Both teams enter the game ranked in the top 25, making this an already marquee conference opener for the Red Raiders before any roster news.

The injury list thins out Houston's depth at receiver and in the secondary right as Big 12 play starts, two spots where losing bodies tends to show up fast on tape. That's good news for Texas Tech on a night already drawing eyes statewide. Folks in Lubbock heading to Friday's game will be watching whether the Red Raiders can capitalize on that gap early, especially if the questionable tags turn into more absences closer to kickoff.

Eight names on one injury report before Friday's opener is a lot to track, and Houston has three days to sort out which of them actually suit up.