Texas Tech football: Statistical reasons Tech lost to UT

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Receiver T.J. Vasher #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders catches a touchdown pass against cornerback Josh Thompson #9 of the Texas Longhorns during the second half of the college football game on September 26, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Texas Tech didn’t push the ball deep nearly enough

It’s tough to fathom just how Tech scored 56 points against Texas on an afternoon when the offense was so reluctant to push the ball vertically in the passing game. In all, the Red Raiders averaged just 6.25 yards per pass attempt. That’s far below what would be considered ideal over the course of a game.

For instance, in week one, the Red Raiders averaged 8.3 yards per pass attempt, and in 2019’s two Big 12 wins, they averaged 9.9.

All afternoon, Tech fans wanted the Red Raiders to push the ball down the field. After all, that strategy worked especially well on their first offensive possession of the game.

On that 6-play, 75-yard TD drive, Tech had completions of 12, 13, and 18 yards. But after that, Tech would go two straight drives without pushing the ball vertically with both drives ending in punts.

But on the fourth drive of the day, OC David Yost got back to that strategy with completions of 16 and 22 yards. In fact, on every Red Raider TD drive except the one-play SaRodorick Thompson 75-yard TD run possession, there were at least two passing plays of over 10 yards.

That’s why it was so frustrating to see the playcalling in overtime when Tech decided to try to run the ball (which as we’ve already discussed didn’t work on Saturday) or try horizontal passes rather than trying to lean on what had worked all afternoon, the vertical passing game.

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