Very few traditions in college football are as unique as Texas Tech and its tortillas. The Red Raiders throw the unleavened flatbread onto the field to celebrate big moments— like opening kickoffs and touchdowns.
However, the Big 12 hopes to minimize the potential for danger.
To do so, the conference implemented a new set of rules surrounding college football fan behavior. It essentially serves as a three-strike system that could create an advantage for the visiting team.
Why does Texas Tech toss tortillas?
Good question. There are two different theories.
The first (and most boring) theory dates back to 1989. Students were asked to stop throwing plastic soda lids onto the field so they switched to tortillas instead.
The more popular (and more fun) theory ties to the rivalry between Texas Tech and Texas A&M. As legend has it, an announcer on ESPN joked that Lubbock had “nothing but Texas Tech football and a tortilla factory.” Fans brought tortillas to the game and tossed them at kickoff in response to the quip.
Either way, regardless of which theory is true, the tradition stuck!
What is the rule?
The NCAA does not have a specific “tortilla penalty” in its rulebook. However, the football program used to be at risk of punishment for unsportsmalike conduct or delay of game.
Technically speaking, Texas Tech does not allow its fans to bring tortillas into the game. They have to sneak them in — and they do!
Other schools in the Big 12 raised concerns about the tradition during the offseason (lame!) so the conference decided to rework its rules on sportsmanship and fan behavior. After a 15-1 vote, the throwing of items of any kind onto the field will result in two stadium warnings. That includes tortillas.
A third instance will result in a 15-yard penalty.
With that in mind, the Red Raiders hope their fans will listen to them. Throw the tortillas only after the opening kickoff or risk hurting your team!
Texas Tech Tortilla Tradition & protocols:
— Shelby (@ShelCEHill) August 27, 2025
– encouraged during opening kickoff
– warnings and penalties for anything thrown onto the playing surface during a game
– “lore” remains on getting tortillas into the stadium unseen
– excess tortillas donated to a local pig farmer pic.twitter.com/jbFKadubNp
The tortilla toss is encouraged on the opening kickoff, not after.
What if college football fans flip the script?
Although this new Big 12 policy sounds pretty straightforward on paper, I have my questions about how it will be enforced. I immediately considered a loophole for opposing fanbases.
It sounds to me like visiting fans could potentially bring their own tortillas to throw onto the field throughout the game, after the opening kickoff, to try and create a situation where Big 12 rules must be enforced on the home team even though it was a result of the visitors. What is to stop them from activating the three-strike system by throwing tortillas?
Lets say Texas Tech fans toss tortillas on the opening kickoff as they are encouraged. Strike one.
The visitor’s fanbase could then throw tortillas onto the field after a random chunk play for the home team early in the game. Strike two.
The visitor’s fanbase could then throw tortillas at any point thereafter. Strike three. 15-yard penalty.
Maybe there is something I am missing here. Perhaps the Big 12 has a way to identify exactly who it was who tossed the tortilla and which side they are on. I don’t know but I doubt it.
If there is not a plan in place to enforce the penalty on the specific fanbase who threw the tortillas, I am confused as to how this new three-strike policy does not create an opportunity for Texas Tech’s opponents to force a 15-yard penalty on the home team. Seems like an issue to me.