STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris has plenty of connections to Texas Tech, but one of his most meaningful relationships heading into Saturday's showdown began nearly a decade ago at Incarnate Word.

Texas Tech offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich got his start in college coaching under Morris in 2018. Now, the two will find themselves on opposite sidelines, calling plays against one another when No. 25 Oklahoma State hosts No. 12 Texas Tech.

For Leftwich, the opportunity to face his former mentor carries special significance.

"Wouldn't be sitting here without him, for sure," Leftwich said.

Leftwich credited Morris with introducing him to a different approach to offensive football after his playing career at UTEP, where he was accustomed to a more traditional, run-heavy system.

"He was really my first major influence in terms of really learning offensive football and the spread passing game," Leftwich said.

Their relationship began while Leftwich was coaching high school football in Texas. At the time, Morris had hired Josh Kirkland, Leftwich's former high school head coach, to join his staff at Incarnate Word. That connection gave Leftwich an opportunity to spend time around Morris and learn his offensive philosophy.

Leftwich recalled regularly visiting Morris to watch film and pursue a coaching opportunity. Eventually, his persistence paid off. Morris hired Leftwich as a graduate assistant in 2018 before promoting him to quarterbacks coach the following season.

The two worked together for four seasons, helping Incarnate Word win shares of the Southland Conference championship in 2018 and 2021. Morris said Leftwich's work ethic and football background made an impression early in their relationship. The Oklahoma State coach also pointed to Leftwich's willingness to learn and take on additional responsibilities as signs that he had a promising coaching future.

After Morris departed for Washington State in 2022, Leftwich remained at Incarnate Word and became offensive coordinator under G.J. Kinne. That opportunity helped launch his rise through the coaching ranks.

Leftwich followed Kinne to Texas State, where the Bobcats ranked among the nation's most productive offenses. In 2024, Texas State averaged 476.9 yards and 36.5 points per game, finishing fifth nationally in total offense and seventh in scoring.

Those results helped Leftwich land his current position at Texas Tech. Now, the former colleagues are preparing for an intriguing matchup between two offensive minds who know each other's systems exceptionally well.

Leftwich acknowledged that he still studies Morris' offenses regularly, looking for concepts he can incorporate into his own playbook. That familiarity creates an unusual challenge for both coaching staffs.

Morris revealed Oklahoma State has already made adjustments to prevent Texas Tech from recognizing certain offensive signals and terminology.

"We've changed some signals, some words, some stuff that's obviously going to be familiar to both sides, right?" Morris said.

Still, the Cowboys' head coach believes execution will ultimately determine which offense has the upper hand. Morris emphasized that both teams have talented players and that winning individual matchups will matter more than attempting to outthink a familiar opponent.

The coaching connection extends beyond Morris and Leftwich. Texas Tech's game notes identify Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Sean Brophy and offensive line coach Cody Crill as former Incarnate Word staff members who overlapped with Leftwich. Those shared experiences add another layer of familiarity to Saturday's matchup.

For Morris, the game also represents a reunion with the university where he played wide receiver and later coached. But while the personal connections provide compelling storylines, both programs have significant goals still within reach.

Oklahoma State enters Saturday at 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, while Texas Tech stands at 8-1 and 5-1. Both teams remain in contention in the conference championship race.

For Leftwich, Saturday offers an opportunity to compete against the coach who helped shape his career. For Morris, it is a chance to see how far his former assistant has progressed, even if that means trying to outmaneuver him on the opposite sideline.

No. 25 Oklahoma State hosts No. 12 Texas Tech on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Source: Yahoo Sports