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Texas Tech football: The most explosive games in Red Raider history

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 17: General view of the Texas Tech Red Raiders scoreboard after the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on September 17, 2016 at AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 59-45. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 17: General view of the Texas Tech Red Raiders scoreboard after the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on September 17, 2016 at AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 59-45. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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General view of AT&T Stadium during the National Anthem . (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
General view of AT&T Stadium during the National Anthem . (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

No. 1: 70 points against Nebraska in 2004

There was a time when Nebraska was considered perhaps the bluest of the blue-blood programs in the nation.  Despite the fact that by the time 2004 rolled around, the Cornhuskers had lost much of that luster, that was an era when the Nebraska name still carried some serious weight in the sport.

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Thus, when Tech obliterated NU 70-10 just weeks after hanging 70 points on TCU, it drew some serious national attention to what Leach was building in Lubbock.  That’s why this offensive explosion is No. 1 on our list.

At that point, Nebraska had been playing football for 114 years.  Never had they suffered a worse loss nor have they since.

This was also a huge win for Tech’s program in that it was the first-ever victory over Nebraska after going 0-7 previously.  And after breaking through, Tech would go on to win three more games in-a-row in the series to become the first program to ever win four-straight games against the Huskers.

Part of what helped this boat-racing come to pass was the fact that Tech forced seven turnovers.  That’s why the 70 points came about despite the fact that Cumbie only threw for 436 yards, a total that is pedestrian by “Air Raid” standards.  Completing 44 of 56 passes, he tossed 5 TDs and was picked off just once.

Hicks had another big game with 107 yards on just three catches (an average of 35.7 yards per grab).  What’s more, two of his three receptions went for scores.

On the other end of the spectrum, Glover managed to come up with 12 catches but for just 74 yards (an average of 6.1 per catch).  He found the endzone once as did Mack, Olomua, and Henderson.

Tech jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the first half but after NU scored the first TD of the third quarter, it looked like a competitive game might unfold.  It didn’t.

From that point on, Tech would score 49 unanswered points, and once again, the Jones Stadium momentum swallowed up another opponent in an avalanche of points and turnovers (Tech picked off five passes on the evening).  Amazingly, all but one of the Red Raiders’ final six drives began on the Nebraska side of the field.

The narrative surrounding this game from a national perspective centered on the downfall of Nebraska football and certainly, this game might have done more than any other to bring down one of college football’s proudest dynasties.  But don’t overlook what it meant for the Leach era in Lubbock.

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Along with the TCU game and the 2004 Holiday Bowl victory over No. 4 Cal and Aaron Rodgers, this season was one that seemed to push Tech more into the national consciousness in Leach’s fourth season.  And by spanking one of the proudest programs in the sport by 60 points, Tech opened quite a few eyes as NU and Tech began to swap places in the Big 12’s hierarchy.  That’s why this was the top offensive explosion in Texas Tech football history.

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