Big 12 vote drops "hammer" on Texas Tech's "tortillas tossing" tradition
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In one of the more hilarious news stories of the day, the Big 12 has finally cracked down on a lighthearted tradition that Texas Tech and its fans have carried on since the 1990s. The origin of this tradition is heavily debated, and no definitive explanation for its origins can be found. Red Raider fans have thrown tortillas on the field as a tradition for almost 30 years. The action has drawn the ire of opponents, the NCAA, and other Big 12 programs. Now it appears the Big 12 has had enough, and following in the footsteps of the NCAA, they are dropping the "hammer" on the tradition.
A recent vote went 15-1 against the tradition, any tradition, involving throwing items on the playing field. I get the safety aspect of this ruling; it is also hilarious that Tech was the lone "no" vote on the verdict. In the future, continued instances of items being tossed on the field could result in 15-yard penalties. This may seem innocuous and petty but knowing Head Coach Jey McGuire he will not be happy if his team is levied these penalties. 15-yard penalties can affect offensive drives and gift valuable yardage to opposing offenses, resulting in bad spots for the Red Raider defense.
The Big 12 voted 15-1 to issue 15-yard penalties to teams after a third instance of throwing items on the field.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) August 14, 2025
Texas Tech was the one that voted against—and their athletic director says their tradition of throwing tortillas will not stop. pic.twitter.com/rLU14pl0lq
It looks like the Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt is refusing to bow down to the new ruling. I anticipate his attitude changing the first time the penalty puts McGuire's team at a disadvantage.
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-e01c17fcdae4e0dd656bdc7ca6585efc-53691679a614377a6a1b52f78beac8fb.jpeg "Jerred Johnson")
Jerred Johnson has served in the United States military for over 23 years. He has a Bachelors in Marketing, a Masters in Management and is in the final phases of completing his Doctorate in Business Administration.