... For the first time all season, we know when Texas Tech's football season will end. The Red Raiders' 2019 season will end after Friday's finale against Texas. The team's bowl hopes were dashed today with its loss to Kansas State. Matt Wells' team fell behind in the first quarter for the third consecutive home game, trailed at the half for the third consecutive home game, played much better in the second half for the third consecutive home game and left Jones Stadium with an L for the third consecutive time.
... Maybe at some point in the (hopefully very near) future, we will look back at this season and marvel that this Red Raider team, in the first year of a new coaching staff and with injuries and depth issues up and down the roster, was as close as it was to a winning season. Two plays away from a bowl season, four away from an eight-win season despite all of the issues. That kind of glass half-full outlook would probably be a lot easier to stomach if the program wasn't a game away from wrapping up the worst decade in its history.
... The Red Raiders giving up a 3rd and 12 with the game and season on the line is a microcosm of the entire season. It was right there to be had, but Texas Tech came up a play short.
... Texas Tech has now posted four-straight losing seasons for the first time since the 1980s.
... I thought Jett Duffey looked a lot like he did last year in this game. He made several really, really great plays. He also made a handful of bad decisions, namely the two interceptions, that really sting in a game that was decided by three points.
... SaRodorick Thompson was the only scholarship running back available tonight after Ta'Zhawn Henry sustained some sort of injury in a pregame collision with McLane Mannix. Thompson is far from 100 percent himself, but still touched the ball 28 times and accounted for 112 yards of offense and a score. Hats off to him for a very tough performance.
... I am extremely impressed that Jordyn Brooks played as much and as well as he did given how limited he looked last week against TCU.
... It won't change much, but there's a profound difference between 5-7 with a win over Texas in Austin and losing six of your last seven to finish 4-8.
... Maybe at some point in the (hopefully very near) future, we will look back at this season and marvel that this Red Raider team, in the first year of a new coaching staff and with injuries and depth issues up and down the roster, was as close as it was to a winning season. Two plays away from a bowl season, four away from an eight-win season despite all of the issues. That kind of glass half-full outlook would probably be a lot easier to stomach if the program wasn't a game away from wrapping up the worst decade in its history.
... The Red Raiders giving up a 3rd and 12 with the game and season on the line is a microcosm of the entire season. It was right there to be had, but Texas Tech came up a play short.
... Texas Tech has now posted four-straight losing seasons for the first time since the 1980s.
... I thought Jett Duffey looked a lot like he did last year in this game. He made several really, really great plays. He also made a handful of bad decisions, namely the two interceptions, that really sting in a game that was decided by three points.
... SaRodorick Thompson was the only scholarship running back available tonight after Ta'Zhawn Henry sustained some sort of injury in a pregame collision with McLane Mannix. Thompson is far from 100 percent himself, but still touched the ball 28 times and accounted for 112 yards of offense and a score. Hats off to him for a very tough performance.
... I am extremely impressed that Jordyn Brooks played as much and as well as he did given how limited he looked last week against TCU.
... It won't change much, but there's a profound difference between 5-7 with a win over Texas in Austin and losing six of your last seven to finish 4-8.
