Texas Tech: 2023 Independence Bowl Champions

SHREVEPORT, La. ― The Texas Tech football team ended with a bowl victory for the third year in a row, beating California 34-14 Saturday night at the Independence Bowl.

Behren Morton threw three first-half touchdown passes and Gino Garcia kicked a 25-yard field goal as Tech built a 24-14 lead by halftime. Tahj Brooks, who recently announced he will stay with the team for 2024 on the Covid-bonus year, tacked on a 7-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Tech finished 7-6, winning for the fourth time in five games since a 3-5 start. The Red Raiders snapped a three-game win streak by Cal (6-7), which became bowl eligible by winning its last three games of the regular season.

The Golden Bears led 7-0 after Tech's Drae McCray fumbled the opening kickoff and Fernando Mendoza flicked a 25-yard touchdown pass to Monroe Young, a brother of Red Raiders' tight end-linebacker Matthew Young. On its next possession, Cal went 79 yards to reach the Tech 5-yard line, but linebacker Ben Roberts threw Jaydn Ott for a loss on fourth-and-2.

Morton threw touchdown passes on Tech's next three possessions, to Coy Eakin for 27 yards, Mason Tharp for 15 yards and Loic Fouonji for 14 yards.

Here's the Red Raiders' report card.

Offense: A

This becomes Behren Morton's team in 2024, and he showed what that could look like with a sharp performance. Coy Eakin had a career high in receiving yards, and Eakin, Mason Tharp and Loic Fouonji pitched in with touchdown catches.

Defense: B

Any team's first order of business facing Cal is to contain Pac-12 rushing leader Jaydn Ott. The Red Raiders held the FBS's seventh-leading rusher to 42 yards through three quarters and foiled him twice on fourth down in Tech territory.

Special Teams: B

Tech ostensibly spotted Cal the game's first touchdown with Drae McCray's fumble on the opening kickoff. Xavier White set up a touchdown with a 24-yard punt return, and Austin McNamara pinned the Golden Bears at their 15-yard line or inside three times.

Coaching: A

Golden Bears wobbled the Red Raiders with a first-play touchdown and another long drive on its second possession. Whatever Joey McGuire's staff said worked, because the Red Raiders kept their poise and answered with authority.

Overall: A

Any bowl victory over a team from a power-five conference is a good victory. Can the Red Raiders use it as a springboard for a more satisfying 2024 season than their disappointing follow-up to last year's Texas Bowl triumph?

Texas Tech: 2022 Texas Bowl Champions

The Texas Tech Red Raiders beat the Ole Miss Rebels in Wednesday night's TaxAct Texas Bowl in Houston 42-25 to improve to 2-1 all-time in Texas Bowl play.

It's Tech's third visit to the Texas Bowl, after having appeared in 2012 and 2015. The Red Raiders are 1-1 in previous Texas Bowl games played.

Tech poured on both defense and offense in the first half, holding a 26-7 lead behind two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown from quarterback Tyler Shough. Kicker Trey Wolf added two field goals.

The defense was part of the story in the first half too, with three total turnovers in the first half, forcing two interceptions from Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The Rebels got back on the board early in the second half with a touchdown pass from Dart to Jordan Watkins that narrowed the Tech lead to 26-13 after a failed two-point conversion by Ole Miss.

Tech tried to answer on the next possession but Wolff missed from 41 yards on his third field goal attempt. Then after holding Ole Miss immediately afterward, Shough was strip-sacked as the Rebels turned up the heat defensively. Ole Miss got the ball at mid-field with a chance to make it a close game.

But the Tech defense held again as Ole Miss failed to convert on another fourth-down attempt. Ole Miss finished the night 1-for-6 on fourth-down attempts and just 2-of-9 on third down.

The Rebels made a game of it late with a 19-yard touchdown from Dart to Heath that made it a 10-point game at 35-25 and attempted an onside kick. The kick was fielded cleanly by Loic Fouonji and returned for a touchdown and a 42-25 Tech lead.

Credit Ole Miss for not giving up and playing hard through the final whistle. The Rebels moved the ball downfield with under a minute left but Dart was intercepted in the end zone by Tyler Owens with 39 seconds left and coach Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders began to celebrate.

Shough was named the Player of the Game. He completed 24-of-29 passes for 242 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and also carried the ball 25 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

Texas Tech: 2021 Liberty Bowl Champions

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- — Donovan Smith threw for 252 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score, and Texas Tech beat Mississippi State 34-7 in the Liberty Bowl on Tuesday night.

Tahj Brooks rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown and SaRodorick Thompson ran for 80 yards and a score for the Red Raiders (7-6), who finished with a winning record for the first time since 2015. They were appearing in their first bowl game since 2017.

Mississippi State (7-6) fell short in coach Mike Leach's first game against a former program of his. Leach, who went 84-43 at Texas Tech from 2000-09, failed to become the first Bulldogs coach to end each of his first two seasons with a bowl victory. Mississippi State was playing in its 12th straight bowl game.

Red Raiders interim coach Sonny Cumbie, a former player at Texas Tech under Leach, ended his five-game run with a 2/3 record. Cumbie, who is departing to become Louisiana Tech's coach, took over for Matt Wells in October.

"It's a sense of relief and accomplishment," Cumbie said. "In these bowl games, the most excited team that shows up is the one that comes out on top. That's what this team did."

Texas Tech rushed for 260 yards against a Bulldogs defense that came in allowing 101 yards per game on the ground.

"Their defensive front is very good," Cumbie said. "We felt with some of our run schemes and some of our motions, we would be able to hit some creases. And our running backs broke some tackles. They were a good opponent, but I did feel we'd have the ability to run the football."

Leach's prolific offense never could get rolling against the Red Raiders and the resulting lopsided loss dropped the Southeastern Conference to 0-4 in the postseason. The Bulldogs were held scoreless in the second half and finished with 344 yards, 105 below their average. Mississippi State was without three offensive linemen, including All-SEC left tackle Charles Cross, a projected top 10 pick in the NFL draft.

"I didn't think we were consistent," Leach said. "We didn't out of the blocks or get into any kind of rhythm. They deserve credit for preparing the way they did and playing the way they did."

Texas Tech put the game out of reach with two third-quarter touchdowns. Smith scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 95-yard drive, the Red Raiders' second-longest of the season. Smith, who was named the game's MVP, completed passes of 39 and 52 yards during the drive. He added a 14-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Sparkman with 2 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Thompson scored his touchdown on a 1-yard run midway through the final quarter for a 34-7 lead.

Texas Tech established the run at the outset, gaining 145 yards in the first quarter and using its physical play to take a 10-0 lead. The Red Raiders moved 75 yards — all on the ground — on the game's opening possession, scoring on a 19-yard run by Brooks.

"I felt that ignited us," Smith said. "We knew we had to come out and score."

Texas Tech added a 31-yard field goal by Jonathan Garibay later in the quarter.

Mississippi State answered on its next series with Will Rogers converting on third-and-11 on the Red Raiders 38 to extend the drive. Rogers evaded a strong rush before finding Jo'quavious Marks for 18 yards to the 20. Two plays later, Rogers fired a 17-yard scoring pass to Rara Thomas.

The Red Raiders took advantage of a Bulldogs miscue in the closing seconds of the half to go up 13-7. Mississippi State punt returner Austin Williams muffed a Texas Tech punt inside the Bulldogs 20-yard line and Jake Bishop recovered at the 14 with 31 seconds remaining. Garibay added a 26-yard field goal with 13 seconds left.

Mississippi State was held to 126 yards in the first half. Rogers, averaging 372 yards passing per game, managed 103 yards on 10-of-17 passing in the half and finished with 290.

DOWN BUT NOT (OPTING) OUT

Leach said his team was struck with COVID-19 issues shortly after arriving in Memphis last weekend, but he never considered pulling the Bulldogs out of the game. After his postgame news conference, Leach estimated as many as 10 or 11 players were affected. He said once the team got to Memphis, he committed to playing the game as long as there were enough players available.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Texas Tech defensive lineman Tyree Wilson earned the game's most outstanding defensive player award on the strength of back-to-back tackles for loss. With the Red Raiders leading 20-7 midway through the third quarter, Wilson sacked Rogers on successive plays — an 11-yard loss on third down from the Tech 20 and a 9-yard loss on fourth down from the 31. Tech took over on downs and scored to go ahead 27-7.

UP NEXT

Mississippi State will enter 2022 with significant contributors returning. The Bulldogs had freshmen and sophomores score 35 of their 47 regular-season touchdowns. Rogers, a sophomore this year, will be back after setting the school's single-season passing record.

Texas Tech starts 2022 under new management. Former Baylor associate head coach Joey McGuire takes over after five seasons with the Bears and 14 as a high school coach at Cedar Hill in Texas, where he won three state titles.

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Texas Tech: 2013 Holiday Bowl Champions

Just when it looked like No. 14 Arizona State was starting to mount a comeback,Reginald Davis turned the tide. The Texas Tech receiver returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score to give Texas Tech a two-touchdown lead they would never relinquish in a 37-23 victory over the Sun Devils at the National University Holiday Holiday Bowl on Monday night in San Diego.

Texas Tech controlled the game from start-to-finish through the air. As is the Red Raiders' M.O., it was an aerial assault pacing the offense. Quarterback Davis Webb threw for 403 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.  He completed passes to 10 different receivers, led by Jace Amaro, who hauled in eight passes. Jakeem Grant added two touchdowns.

Arizona State was plagued by missed opportunities. On a first half drive, the Sun Devils had the ball at the one-yard line but failed to punch it in. Kicker Zane Gonzalez proceeded to miss the ensuing field goal. In the fourth quarter, quarterback Taylor Kelly hit wide open receiver Rick Smith with a perfect pass in the end zone, but Smith dropped the ball. It wasn't the Sun Devils' night.

Box Score Hero: Texas Tech quarterback Davis Webb: 403 yards and four touchdowns on 28-of-41 passing.

Texas Tech wide receiver Jace Amaro: eight receptions for 112 yards.

Texas Tech receiver Jakeem Grant: six receptions for 89 yards.Texas

Rankings Ramifications: ASU came into the game ranked No. 14, but they sure didn't play like it. The loss will surely drop them a couple of rungs in the final top-25 poll of the season. And while it was a really impressive performance from the Red Raiders, it likely won't be enough to get them back into the rankings.

But Did They Cover? Arizona State came in as a 17-point favorite. They did not cover.

Texas Tech: 2012 Meineke Car Car Bowl of Texas Champions

Texas Tech rallies to beat Minnesota 34-31

HOUSTON (AP) -- D.J. Johnson returned an interception 39 yards and Ryan Bustin made a 28-yard field goal as time expired to give Texas Tech a 34-31 comeback victory over Minnesota on Friday night in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Seth Doege found Eric Ward on a short pass, and he outran a defender for a 35-yard scoring play to pull the Red Raiders even at 31 with just more than a minute remaining.

Michael Carter intercepted two of Doege's passes in the fourth quarter before the tying score, but Minnesota couldn't convert either of the turnovers into points.

The Red Raiders (8-5) got their third straight bowl win to wrap up a month that began with coach Tommy Tuberville's abrupt departure for the job at Cincinnati. Texas Tech has hired Kliff Kingsbury to replace him, but interim coach Chris Thomsen led the team against Minnesota (6-7). Kingsbury was at the game, watching from a suite.

Doege threw for 271 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score in front of a crowd that included 1977 Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell and former Tech coach Spike Dykes.

Philip Nelson threw for 138 yards and two scores for the Gophers, who were in a bowl game for the first time since 2009.

The Red Raiders returned to a bowl after having their 18-season bowl streak snapped last year.

A 1-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Drew Goodger gave Minnesota a 31-24 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Texas Tech led 24-17 at halftime, but couldn't do anything offensively in the second half until the last couple of minutes. It was an ugly game for the Red Raiders, who had 13 penalties for 135 yards and lost the tight end Jace Amaro when he was ejected for throwing a punch.

Jakeem Grant ran for what was initially ruled a touchdown for Tech late in the third quarter. Amaro threw a punch at Derrick Wells in the end zone on the play and was ejected.

After the penalty, the play was reviewed and overturned. Doege threw an incomplete pass before Tech made a 32-yard field goal. But the Red Raiders had a false start penalty on the play and had to kick again and this time the Gophers blocked it.

Nelson threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Devin Crawford-Tufts, who was left uncovered in the end zone, to tie it at 24 early in the third quarter.

Donnell Kirkwood scored on a 3-yard run to leave Minnesota up 17-14 early in the second quarter.

Texas Tech had a first-and-goal at the Minnesota 2 after a pass-interference call on the Gophers. But Texas Tech had to settle for a field goal after a rush for a 3-yard loss and two penalties.

Minnesota's next drive started out well before turning ugly. The Gophers had made two first downs before Gray was sacked for a loss of seven yards. Kirkwood ran for 17 yards on the next play, but Minnesota received two 15-yard penalties on the play, one for a personal foul on lineman Zac Epping, to make it second-and-42. Epping received a second personal foul penalty on the next play to bring up third-and-49.

Christian Eldred shanked the punt, giving Texas Tech the ball at the Minnesota 42.

The Red Raiders capitalized on their great field position when Doege spun away from a defender in the backfield and leaped over another Gopher near the goal line on a 4-yard touchdown run. Tech converted a fourth-and-6 play on that drive, and led 24-17 at halftime.

Minnesota's Rodrick Williams Jr. scored on a 2-yard run to give the Gophers a 10-7 lead in the first quarter.

Doege lost his helmet on a 5-yard scramble on Tech's next drive and had to go out for one play. He was replaced by Michael Brewer, who found Derreck Edwards for a 13-yard touchdown pass to give the Red Raiders a 14-10 lead.

Minnesota's Troy Stoudermire returned the opening kickoff 26 yards to break the NCAA record for career kickoff return yards. He finished the game with 111 yards to push his total to 3,615.

The Gophers ended that drive with a 41-yard field goal to make it 3-0.

Texas Tech's Grant returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to put Texas Tech up 7-3.

Introducing the Bobby Knight of Big XII football…Mike Gundy?

There already is an equivalent of Bobby Knight in Big Ten football. He was a guy by the name of Woody Hayes. But up until this point, I though Woody Hayes was the only Bobby Knight of college football. It turned out that I was wrong..by a country mile.

Enter the 40-year old football virgin, Mike Gundy. Here he is, after a 49-45 slugfest over Texas Tech, in which he rips apart Jenna Carlson for her presumed smack-talking of one of the reserve quarterbacks who is benched anyway…and he does an average, if D-grade, effort in delivering the backlash.

I mean, it’s hilarious, and I applaud the fact that he is standing by his words, at the risk of being chewed up like Hank Hill in the first episode of King of the Hill. At least, he didn’t pull out a Don Imus-like impersonation. Carlson can breathe easy, now that she wasn’t painted in the same brush as the runner-ups on the Rutgers women’s basketball team.

But it takes courage to stand by your words, and face the music. Even I have trouble apologizing for my choice of words, because I believe that apologies never reversed the damage done, and it won’t. You gotta hand it to coaches like Mike Gundy. They would bring tears to Bud Kilmer’s eyes, or at least a chuckle or a smirk.

And one wonders if Bobby Knight is impressed by the choice of words, if at all. After all, he now coaches the basketball team from the university that Mike Gundy’s boys defeated the other weekend.

So much for getting the facts straight…