Texas Tech football: 5 plays that defined 2019 for the Red Raiders

Wide receiver McLane Mannix #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

No. 5: McLane Mannix fumbles late against TCU

Needing to win two of the last three games of the year to get to a bowl game, Tech had the ball trailing TCU 33-31 with 2:23 to play. On the first play of the drive, Duffey found Mannix for a 9-yard gain but the junior receiver was stripped of the ball and TCU recovered. Tech would not see the ball again.

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Though we all know that Mannix needs to hang onto the ball in this situation, we have to give credit to TCU defensive back Vernon Scott. The safety came up and stripped Mannix in textbook fashion and made the play his team had to have.

This is an interesting example to look at because it illustrated just how slim the margin of error for most teams in the middle of the Big 12 is. Had Mannix secured the ball, Tech was in business and ready to drive down for a game-winning score but one heady play by a senior on TCU turned the tied.

Wouldn’t it have been nice if a Red Raider defensive player ever would have made a similar play this season? The closest we saw was Howard’s late sack against Brewer in Waco.

But time and time again, the Red Raider defense couldn’t make the type of play that Scott made on Mannix. Likewise, the Red Raider offense couldn’t make the plays when needed either.

This was one of four games in which Tech had at least one drive in OT or the 4th quarter to win or tie a game and failed to score. That shows just how small the margin for error was and why this year was so frustrating for everyone in Scarlet and Black.