Texas Tech Football: Top 10 Plays of 2015

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Nov 26, 2015; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes II (5) passes the ball against the Texas Longhorns during the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas Tech beat Texas 48-45. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2015; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes II (5) passes the ball against the Texas Longhorns during the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas Tech beat Texas 48-45. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 Texas Tech’s immaculate reception vs. Texas

The No. 3 play of 2015 was the season’s most improbable and miraculous.

As Texas Tech and Texas battled in a Thanksgiving monsoon in Austin, the Red raider offense was struggling to get anything going. Quarterback Pat Mahomes was not on his game missing open receivers in the wet conditions.

Early in the second quarter, Mahomes lofted another poor pass, this one a deep ball intended for receiver Devin Lauderdale. A Texas defender stepped up to make what looked to be an easy interception on the under-thrown ball.

Fortunately, Lauderdale made a heads-up play by clobbering the defender and knocking the ball lose. Being in the right place at the right time, Grant who was chasing the play had the ball flip right into his arms completing the 65-yard miracle.

And while this play was the result of being in the right place at the right time, Grant’s hustle turned out to be the difference. Despite not being the intended receiver, Grant did not just become a bystander and as a result, Texas Tech scored its first touchdown of the game and took the lead.

As a younger player, Grant was sometimes criticized for immaturity and a lack of effort but obviously he learned his lesson while at Texas Tech. Had Grant just done what many players would have and merely watched the play unfold, Texas would have had an interception and the momentum while Texas Tech might have had the curse of Austin hanging over them once again.

Next: Grant goes 90