The Texas Tech Tortilla Scandal Continues

For decades, Texas Tech football fans have celebrated kickoff by tossing tortillas onto the field — a quirky, long-standing tradition that’s become a hallmark of Red Raider culture. The practice began in the late 1980s as a lighthearted show of school spirit, and though stadium officials once tolerated it, the Big 12 Conference now sees it differently.

In 2025, the Big 12 introduced strict penalties for any objects thrown during games, including the tortillas. The new rule issues warnings and fines, and repeated offenses can result in a 15-yard penalty against the home team. Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt was the lone dissenting vote, arguing the tradition is harmless and part of the university’s identity.

The debate intensified after a recent Texas Tech–Kansas matchup, when Kansas coach Lance Leipold claimed a pocket knife thrown from the crowd struck a staff member. The Big 12 later fined both schools — $25,000 for Kansas over the unsubstantiated claim, and $25,000 for Texas Tech for failing to stop fans from throwing tortillas, but the Big 12 Conference just took it a step further.

As of today, Texas Tech will be given one warning for items thrown on the playing field. After that, it will lead to an automatic 15-yard penalty, and a $100,000 fine for each subsequent violation.

Now, what was once a lighthearted display of Red Raider pride has become a point of contention across the conference. Fans defend the ritual as harmless fun, while critics say even a tortilla can symbolize a disregard for sportsmanship and safety — leaving Texas Tech caught between preserving tradition and following the rules.