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Texas Tech football: Counting down Matt Wells’ worst in-game decisions

By Matthew Conner

Oct 10, 2020; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells looks on against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Powers-USA TODAY Sports.
Oct 10, 2020; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells looks on against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Powers-USA TODAY Sports. /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders yells during the first half of the college football game against the Texas Longhorns on September 26, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders yells during the first half of the college football game against the Texas Longhorns on September 26, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

The “sky kick” vs. Texas

The worst decision Wells has made during a game while at Tech was the “sky kick” against Texas.  With Tech leading UT 56-41 with 3:13 on the game clock, Tech tried to ensure UT would not have a kickoff return by kicking the ball high into the air to an up back.

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However, Wolff didn’t kick the ball far enough for the play to work.  In fact, he kicked it only 24 yards to allow UT to take over at their own 41.  That is a yard further upfield than the Horns would have had the ball had Tech simply kicked it out of bounds.

Four plays later, the Longhorns would be in the endzone and their comeback would be on.  On the next possession, they would recover an onside kick and then tie the game with just 40 seconds to play.

So think about how this game would have been different had the Red Raiders simply kicked the ball into the endzone or kicked it deep and played coverage.  That would have forced UT to travel at least an extra 15 yards, which could have taken three plays or more…which likely would have exhausted the 40 seconds UT had to spare when they tied the game.

Now, there were plenty of other moments that led to this game’s collapse.  For instance, there were two crucial Alan Bowman interceptions, a blocked punt for a UT touchdown, and the failed onside recovery.

light. Related Story. The all-decade defensive line

But when Tech went to the sky kick, UT was beaten and everyone in the stadium knew it.  However, when they got the ball at their own 41, they had a flicker of life and that helped them get right into attack mode.  The rest is just another dreadful chapter in Texas Tech football history.

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