LUBBOCK, TEX. ? Texas’ road record under Mack Brown is hard to beat. Except for Texas Tech.

Of Brown’s 28-3 road record against unranked opponents the last nine years, two of those losses were at Tech.

And guess where the No. 5 Longhorns travel this week?

That’s right, West Texas, where the Red Raiders like to think Longhorn dreams of winning Big 12 titles go to die.

The last time Texas (7-1, 4-0 Big 12) went to Lubbock ranked this high, the Red Raiders stunned the No. 4 Longhorns in a 42-38 shootout that saw Kliff Kingsbury fire six touchdown passes.

It was an ambush Brown will never forget.

“They’ll be pumped, it will be cold, it will be loud, they won’t like us very much,” Brown said. “Their ability to make the big play has been one thing that’s hurt us so were going to have to play really, really well to have a chance to win again.”

Texas has won the last three against the Red Raiders (5-3, 2-2), but two were on the Longhorns’ home field. And Texas took notice last week when Tech rebounded from a two-game skid to beat Iowa State 42-27.

“Tech got well against Iowa State,” Brown said. “They completely dominated.”

Or maybe they just relaxed.

The Red Raiders had 10 turnovers in the two losses and quarterback Graham Harrell was erratic. Sensing his team was tight, enigmatic coach Mike Leach canceled practice the day after losing to Colorado and served the players ice cream.

Leach, who had delivered some harsh criticism after losses this season, told them they needed to hang out together more and to have fun playing football.

Things were getting too serious, he said.

“Last week we came out ready to play and had fun,” defensive tackle Chris Hudler said. “So, this week I think we are just looking to do the same – have fun, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, mistakes will be made. Just come out and make plays.”

After throwing five interceptions in the two losses, Harrell redeemed himself with 368 yards passing and six touchdowns against the Cyclones.

As scary as Leach’s free-wheeling passing offense looks at times, the Longhorns have all but shut it down the last two years in dominating victories of 51-21 and 52-17.

But the Texas defense has struggled against the pass this season.

The Longhorns have given up more than 300 yards in each of their last two games and have surrendered 11 passing touchdowns, one more than all of last season.