I have already written about this game once in our countdown, and don’t get me wrong the game is absolutely awesome. Yes, dynasty needs some work and RTG feels a little empty BUT the gameplay is fluid. Even the brutality of Heisman mode feels refreshing, a real challenge that the game has lacked in previous editions. The Elden Ring of game sliders makes even FCS battles a fight to the death.

And with Texas Tech specifically, there are some really cool details. The stripeout that can be triggered, the updated uniforms, the coolest being the stadium being shown as it will be upon finishing (more or less). But we have all of course noticed a lot of pageantry missing.

The first obvious one is the Masked Rider not leading the runout. I am not certain how that ball was dropped, as almost all schools have their mascots involved in runouts present. Another being the lack of tortillas, or Raider Red being absent entirely.

Now, the tortillas are probably never coming to the game. Technologically, I think that would be a pain in the ass to code out. Especially factoring in dynamic attendance requiring the tortillas thrown to maybe be tweaked as the crowd shrinks and grows. Doable I am sure, but do that or make a better overall product? It is a no contest for me.

But the Masked Rider and Raider Red NEEEEEEEEEEEED (yes the extra Es are necessary) to be in the game. You can’t get the full feel of the Jones without them They are iconic, and to my biased opinion, the Masked Rider is way more iconic than the Aggies dumb dogs or their lame male cheerleaders.