One of the teams in the Big 12 on upset alert in Week 5 was Oklahoma State football as they took on the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
No. 15 Oklahoma State football looked to respond from a tough 13-point loss to the TCU Horned Frogs in Week 4 against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Week 5. Jones AT&T Stadium under the lights is never really a friendly place for AP Top 25 teams to play in.
It took Oklahoma State until the final minutes of the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Texas Tech took the Pokes right down to the wire in Lubbock, TX. Many of the breaks early in the game fell toward the Red Raiders and they took advantage. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury is fighting for his jobs and needs to take risks that can help the Red Raiders win games they might not have otherwise.
Texas Tech had not lost a game entering this matchup as they entered with a record of 3-0. This was their first Big 12 action of the year. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State entered with a 3-1 (0-1 Big 12) record with the only loss coming against TCU.
Getting back on track was priority number one for head coach Mike Gundy and the Pokes. Oklahoma State has been a historically good team under Gundy after they lose a game early in the year when they were favored. Yet, no team would have an easy time with this Texas Tech team. The Red Raiders had already defeated quality opponents like the Arizona State Sun Devils and Houston Cougars.
Now, let’s take a look at three takeaways from the Oklahoma State win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Week 5.
3. Keep feeding Justice Hill the ball
Sophomore running back Justice Hill was held in check against TCU. He was due for a big performance against Texas Tech and that’s exactly what he delivered. Oklahoma State does not have a set in stone backup for Hill either.
Hill ended up with 30 carries on the game, rushing for 164 yards and no touchdowns. Mason Rudolph did get two rushing touchdowns in the red zone that Hill might have gotten otherwise. However, those rushing touchdowns from Rudolph were set up by Hill’s effectiveness.
The play-action portion of the Oklahoma State offense allows for Rudolph to find some of his best receivers on intermediate routes without having linebackers or safeties jumping them all the time. It also makes the defense creep up and lets Rudolph beat them over the top.
There’s multiple ways that Hill’s production helps out this offense. However, if he continues to rush for more than 100 yards each week, then Oklahoma State will be on its way to getting back to the top of the Big 12.
2. James Washington is still the best receiver in the country
The decision of senior wide receiver James Washington to return to Oklahoma State for his last year of eligibility officially made this receiving corps the best in the country. Washington is also one of the absolute best in the nation.
Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk and Alabama’s Calvin Ridley are the two receivers that compete with Washington for the title of best in the country. Right now, Washington has a much better stat line that both Kirk and Ridley.
It just seems like whenever Mason Rudolph throws the ball to Washington, it’s going to be caught no matter what and he’ll be able to get at least five yards after the catch. Washington had more catches in the 10-15 yard range than anything.
Texas Tech did hold Washington away from any deep threat in the game. Washington’s longest catch of the game went for 30 yards. He finished the game with 127 yards on nine catches and with one touchdown.
1. Texas Tech will make some noise in the Big 12
This does look like a different Texas Tech team in the Big 12 than we’ve seen over the last two season. Since Kliff Kingsbury was on the hot seat entering the season, he had to make something happen to keep his job.
The undefeated start in conference play gives the Red Raiders a great chance to at least improve on their four win season from 2016. All they have to do is win one more game in the Big 12 to match their win total from last year.
Senior quarterback Nic Shimonek is not the same thing that former quarterback Patrick Mahomes gave to this offense. However, Shimonek is a quality replacement and does a good job leading this offense. He threw for 330 yards and one touchdown.
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Texas Tech was so close to pulling off the upset against Oklahoma State. That would have immediately catapulted the Red Raiders into the AP Top 25 and contention for the Big 12 Championship.