- I argued earlier this week that the Red Raiders' lackluster performance in Lawrence was just a bad game, something that virtually every team, on every level in every sports goes through on occasion. It would be harder to make that case today after a second-consecutive miserable showing.
- Texas Tech's offense has now scored 23 and 27 points in its last two games. Given how bad the Red Raiders' defense is in virtually every area except forcing turnovers, scoring in the 20s isn't going to get it done against any team left on the schedule.
- I don't necessarily think that all four of those interceptions were "on" Pat Mahomes, but this is the second-straight week where he's not played well. You generally expect games like this out of a first-year starter, but the drop-off from "good" Mahomes to "bad" Mahomes is striking. It should go without saying, but Texas Tech won't win another game this season unless "good" Mahomes returns.
- Probably the only thing that I would classify as good news from today is that Ian Sadler looks like he's fully recovered from his injury.
- I don't know if this offensive line can recover from losing Justin Murphy and Baylen Brown. Hopefully the news isn't bad on Brown. The drop-off between the starting group that played against TCU and the starting group next week if Brown is out will be pretty significant.
- I don't know what to say about the defense, really. It's awful. It's so bad, and such a huge part of this season, that it deserves a lengthy, insightful address, but I don't know what to say. David Gibbs' group is good for two or three turnovers per game, typically, but there doesn't seem to be one player or position group that Gibbs can rely on play-to-play, drive-to-drive or game-to-game.
- I get the broad strokes of why the defensive performance is as bad as it is. You can't change schemes four times in five years, and all that that entails, without consequences and Texas Tech is paying for it now. But I understand that doesn't make sitting through these games any easier. I would imagine that it's very hard to be zen about things when Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon combine for 355 yards and six touchdowns on 39 carries.
- Texas Tech has now lost 15 consecutive games against Big 12 teams not named Kansas and Iowa State. It hasn't beat a Power Five team with a winning record since topping Arizona State in the 2013 Holiday Bowl. This program, this head coach, this team, this fanbase all desperately need a win against Oklahoma State next week.
