Texas Tech football: 5 forgotten plays that changed the course of 2020 season

Failed 4th-and-2 vs. TCU inside the 10

While you can argue that Tech wouldn’t have changed its fortunes all that much by picking up the fourth down against Iowa State, there’s no arguing that the missed opportunity on 4th-and-2 inside the TCU 10 completely changed the complexion of that game.

Remember, this is the game that Wells felt like he had to kick a field goal on second down in the fourth quarter with Tech trailing by nine points, 27-18.  So think about how different this game could have played out had Tech taken the three points instead of going for a TD when they were down 10-0 with just over six minutes remaining in the first half.

On that play, Tech tried to roll Colombi out to his right on a play that looked like it was designed to be a run-pass option for the mobile QB.  However, TCU snuffed that part of the play out.

Thus, Colombi tried to hit a crossing KeSean Carter in the endzone.  But the pass was broken up and the ball was turned over on downs.

The rub here though is that there was an open receiver that Colombi never looked at.  Freshman tight end John Holcomb was open just beyond the first-down marker but Colombi either never looked his way or simply didn’t think he could get him the ball.  That’s the receiver that the ball should have gone to on the play but instead, Colombi went for it all and the gamble didn’t pay off.

In hindsight, Wells should have taken the three points.  Had he done so, Tech would have trailed just 27-21 in the fourth quarter at the point of the game when he called for the ill-fated second-down FG.  But he didn’t and it completely altered the course of a game that Tech should have had an opportunity to win in the fourth quarter.