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Texas Tech officials all but confirmed Kansas head coach Lance Leipold’s claim that a pocket knife was thrown toward the Jayhawks sideline Saturday.
The Lubbock school has a long tradition of fans throwing tortillas on the field, which officials voted 15-1 to ban. However, the decision didn’t stop fans, and some apparently went too far.
“A pocket knife was thrown and hit one of our team members. I mean, it’s ridiculous,” Leipold said after KU’s 42-17 loss to the Red Raiders. “I mean, it’s supposed to be for safety and things like that, and it’s a culture that’s been accepted to a certain point, and it hasn’t changed. And eventually, someone is going to get seriously hurt, unfortunately.”
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Texas Tech fans throw tortillas before a Big 12 Conference football game Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Officials later said a pocket knife was found on the Jayhawks’ sideline.
Leipold also said Big 12 officials “mishandled” the throwing of objects, considering it no longer allowed.
Leipold was animated during his postgame handshake with Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire, calling the actions “bulls—.”
Head coach Joey McGuire of the Texas Tech Red Raiders and head coach Lance Leipold of the Kansas Jayhawks speak at midfield after the game at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 11, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
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“Coach, there’s nothing I can do about it. Do you want me to do something about it?” » asked McGuire.
“It’s frustrating. I’m frustrated, I know he’s frustrated. We have a new rule in this league, we know the rule, we didn’t follow it and we got penalized for it… We have to be better. We have to do a better job, and we will,” McGuire said. The Red Raiders received two 15-yard penalties for fan behavior.
The knife was turned over to Texas Tech, who turned it over to the Texas Tech Police Department. The school is also reviewing game day video.
Members of the Texas Tech Red Raiders student body during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Jones AT&T Stadium. (Michael C. Johnson/Imagn Images)
The Red Raiders are ranked seventh in the AP poll and face Arizona State this weekend to improve to 7-0.
