1972 Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Sun Bowl, L 28–32 vs. North Carolina
Conference	Southwest Conference
Record	8–4 (4–3 SWC)
Head coach	Jim Carlen (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	No-huddle option
Defensive coordinator	Richard Bell (3rd season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Jones Stadium
Seasons ←  1971 1973 →

The 1972 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their third season under head coach Jim Carlen, the Red Raiders compiled an 8–4 record (4–3 against conference opponents), tied for second place in the SWC, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 282 to 188. ^{[1] [2]} The team's statistical leaders included Joe Barnes with 1,142 passing yards, George Smith with 740 rushing yards, and Andre Tillman with 285 receiving yards. ^{[3] [4]} The team played its home games at Clifford B. & Audrey Jones Stadium.

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Utah*		Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX	W 45–2	38,180
September 23	at New Mexico*		University Stadium Albuquerque, NM	W 41–16	24,860
September 30	No. 12 Texas		Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX ( rivalry)	L 20–25	52,187
October 5	Tulsa*		Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX	W 35–18	34,175
October 14	at Texas A&M		Kyle Field College Station, TX ( rivalry)	W 17–14	34,200
October 21	Arizona*		Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX	W 35–10	33,320
October 28	at No. 18 SMU		Texas Stadium Irving, TX	W 17–3	35,953
November 4	at Rice	No. 18	Rice Stadium Houston, TX	W 10–6	20,000
November 11	TCU	No. 15	Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX ( rivalry)	L 7–31	40,120
November 16	at Baylor		Baylor Stadium Waco, TX ( rivalry)	W 13–7	18,000
November 23	Arkansas	No. 20	Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX ( rivalry)	L 14–24	35,275
December 30	vs. No. 16 North Carolina*		Sun Bowl El Paso, TX ( Sun Bowl)	L 28–32	27,877	[5]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^{[1] [2]}