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Texas Tech football: Game balls for win over Oklahoma State

By Matthew Conner

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver KeSean Carter #82 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second quarter on September 22, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver KeSean Carter #82 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second quarter on September 22, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

The offensive line

The biggest difference in the gave was the offensive line play of the Red Raiders.  Texas Tech established its dominance almost immediately and manhandled the Cowboys all night.  Facing an Oklahoma State defense that had been giving up an average of 296 yards per game, the Red Raider offensive line was the foundation for an offense that amassed 621 yards, almost 200 yards more than any other team OSU had faced this year.

The most obvious area of dominance from the offensive line was in the running game.  The Red Raiders ran for 224 yards and their average of 4.9 yards per carry was more than double the 2.2 yards per rush OSU had allowed in the three previous games.

And in the passing game, the line gave Alan Bowman enough time to complete 76.1% of his passes.  The Cowboys entered the game leading the nation in sacks with 16 but were able to get to Bowman only three times Saturday night.

After having to play shorthanded against Houston when starting left tackle Travis Bruffy and starting left guard Madison Akamnonu left he game with injuries, the Red Raider o-line was back to full strength against Oklahoma State and it showed.

And that group proved that it is one of the best offensive lines in the nation as many expected it to be this year.  Entering the season, Tech’s starting five o-linemen had a combined 95 starts and if that group stays healthy, it will be able to set the tone for the offense throughout the remainder of the season, which will be huge for an team featuring so much youth at the skill positions.

Every offensive line works together as a cohesive unit and no one member is more important than the other four.  Thus, it makes sense to award a game ball to the entire Red Raider offensive line as the collective group was spectacular this week.

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