NCAAF, Team News / Analysis, Player News / Analysis, Rumors, Scores, Rankings, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Michael Crabtree, Colt McCoy
The Texas Longhorns almost looked like they could make it through the toughest 4-week stretch in the country unscathed, but Mike Leach's Texas Tech Red Raiders pulled it out in the final seconds to give the Longhorns their first loss.
Graham Harrell's pass to Michael Crabtree with only 1 second remaining put them ahead, and Texas' attempt at a miraculous kickoff return was denied when Texas Tech defender Franklin Mitchem picked off one of the lateral attempts.The game could have (and probably should have) been sealed on the play before the TD, when Texas' Blake Gideon dropped what should have been an easy interception. That was Harrell's only incompletion on that game-winning drive, in which Texas Tech drove 62 yards down the field on 6 plays.
Harrell finished the game with 474 yards on 36/53 passing, and 2 TD's. Texas WR Malcolm Williams led all receivers with 182 yards and 2 TD, but Tech had 2 players (Crabtree and Edward Britton) with over 125 yards receiving, and the Red Raiders also had some success running the ball, with Shannon Woods and Baron Batch combining for 122 yards.
Texas moves into the "easy" part of their schedule now, with remaining games against Baylor, Kansas and Texas A&M. Texas Tech will experience the opposite, as they will host Oklahoma State, play at Oklahoma, and then finally finish the season with a cupcake against Baylor.
Look for Texas to obviously drop in the rankings, as Texas Tech will receive a nice boost. They may move up to as high as #3 in the AP poll.
11/2/08 |
Jubanator14
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367 respect
damn great game. 1st good game this season with 2 big teams in it. texas tech prove themselves. but just like texas now going get the best of each team. van we jest have a big twelve and sec tourny each week they get beat up. wow great season
I like to think that the OU/Texas and OSU/Texas games were both really good games too.
11/2/08 | fourtime7 | 8 respect
damn great game. 1st good game this season with 2 big teams in it. texas tech prove themselves. but just like texas now going get the best of each team. van we jest have a big twelve and sec tourny each week they get beat up. wow great season
11/2/08 |
Jubanator14
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367 respect
That is in the AP poll which doesn't factor into the BCS. Oklahoma went to 4 while Texas dropped to 7 in that one. Even as an Oklahoma fan I don't agree with putting Texas behind us. We lost to them.
11/2/08 | huskerdoug2009 | 1850 respect
Didn't hurt to bad. Texas only dropped to 5th, which still puts it ahead of #6 Oklahoma. #1 Alabama will lose to either LSU this coming weekend or in the Iron Bowl to Auburn. #2Penn State will either lose to Iowa or Michigan State.#3Texas Tech will lose both of the next 2 games to Okie State and Oklahoma. #4 Florida will lose one of it's last four games or the SEC Championship game, although would bet the ranch it's not to The Citadel
By season's end it will be Washington playing Washington State for the National Chumpionship
11/2/08 | swchatte
Big XII and SEC are the two best conferences in college football this year period! If there is a BCS national championship final that does not represent at least a big XII or an SEC team then it will be a complete travesty. Then just don't call it the national championship. What will be even worse is if a team from the weak Big X or the joke Pac 10 makes it to the final. Because I seriously think that USC or Penn State would certainly lose to even a good non BCS team like Utah, Boise State or TCU. And if USC or Penn State were in the big XII south they would be in the 5th and 6th place (bottom two) in that conference, same goes for them if it was the SEC.
11/2/08 |
kantwistaye
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3954 respect
Sadly, yes. Unless some crazy things happen, Texas probably lost too late in the season. Stupid, but its college football right now.
11/2/08 | neilatwood
That was a total bummer, seeing as how I love the Longhorns. But my hats off to a very good TT team. Do you think this severely damages Texas' chances of playing for a National Championship?
11/2/08 |
kantwistaye
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3954 respect
While I didn't see tha game (so my opinion is essentially useless) shouldn't Texas Tech at least be in the top 3? Texas was far ahead anyone else and TT beat them, that should count for a lot.
11/2/08 | RichmondSpider
Very true... damn good thing the Rose Bowl is the "Grandaddy of them all" - otherwise it would not get any respect and would/does live up to its name - a real afternoon snoozer.
11/2/08 | RichmondSpider
By the way, what about Penn State? Could they be undefeated and still get passed over for the title game by a one loss Florida or USC?
"
Valid points all. I can see Penn State getting passed by UF - just based on strength of schedule and league. Sorry, I don't/can't see UF and USC in the same "league" - if USC jumps over PSU then it is due to the media... not so much a big difference over who beat them (Ole Miss Vs. Oregon State) but a massive difference in schedules and leagues. Could/would UF beat PSU head to head, I give them 2 out of 3.
11/2/08 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
USC is better than Penn State, and many of the Big 12 or SEC schools. Their defense is ridiculous. The Pac-10 isn't having a great year by any means, but their schedule is still better than Penn State's. Either way, they'll probably wind up in the Rose Bowl yet again where they crush some Big-10 school by 35 points, just like every year.
11/2/08 | CalBoomer | 43 respect
Excuse me, but the game should have been over long before the "failed" interception. That offensive interference call when Tech was yards away from a touchdown was a strictly chicken-sh*t call. Tech scores a touchdown instead of a field goal and the rest of the game is immaterial. It was just cosmic justice that such a poor call didn't cost Tech the game.
11/2/08 |
Jubanator14
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367 respect
But about Penn St., they are basically USC without a loss. USC and Penn St. have pretty much played the same crappy schedule and both beat Ohio St. I really hope Michigan St. can pull off that upset so we don't even have to worry about a Big 10 team and can get the Big 12/SEC matchup that everyone wants to have. I wish we could just matchup all the Big 12 and SEC bowl teams in bowls. See who really is the best this year.
11/2/08 | Chief_aka_James | 3286 respect
IDK about any of the above...but thats why the BCS is just so ****ing fantastic!
/little sense of sarcasm there
11/2/08 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
yeah them too, apologies.
11/2/08 |
Jubanator14
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367 respect
By the way, what about Penn State? Could they be undefeated and still get passed over for the title game by a one loss Florida or USC?
Or a one loss Oklahoma after wins over two top 10 teams to finish their season?
11/2/08 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
I think if Tech wins out, beating Ok St. and Oklahoma (which admittedly seems unlikely), i can't imagine them not playing in the national title game.
By the way, what about Penn State? Could they be undefeated and still get passed over for the title game by a one loss Florida or USC?
11/2/08 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
Insane game, so glad I watched from start to finish. By the way, Blake Gideon better transfer, like this instant. An armless man could have intercepted that pass.
11/2/08 | RichmondSpider
Fantastic game - one unbelieveable finish - I see Texas Tech at the highest coming in at #4 - Alabama, Penn State, Florida, Texas Tech - I can't see them any higher and chances are good they will only move to a #5 or #6 from their current #7 spot/. Seems this year that the good teams are really good and the bad teams are really bad!