Throwback Thursday: Texas Tech Hangs 70 on Nebraska
By Robert Jones
The storied Nebraska Cornhuskers had never suffered defeat like they did at the hand of the 2004 Texas Tech Red Raider squad led by Sonny Cumbie and Mike Leach.
Tech handed the Cornhuskers the worst loss in their 114-year history, a 70-10 drumming in Lubbock, led by quarterback Cumbie’s 436-yard, five-touchdown performance and a wicked seven forced turnovers.
It was Tech’s first ever victory over Nebraska, and probably set the tone for this matchup in years to come, a series which featured more than one lopsided Tech victory.
After a dominating first-half performance put Tech up 21-3 (capped by an 80-yard Jarrett Hicks TD), the Red Raiders poured it on in the second with six forced turnovers and 49 points to seal the deal. Five of Tech’s last six possessions began in Nebraska territory: at the 41, 14, 8, 6 and 12.
This win arguably was the height of Mike Leach’s offensive dominance with Texas Tech, because it was the second home game that year that the Red Raiders put up 70 points on a good defensive opponent (70-35 over TCU).