Texas Tech football: Why K-State has owned the Red Raiders lately

Untimely penalties have cost Texas Tech

Another advantage of having a highly-respected head coach in place for a lengthy run is that it allows a team to develop a reputation.  In the case of the Wildcats, the Snyder era saw the program come to be known as one of the most disciplined in the nation.

As a result, KSU was always one of the least penalized teams in the Big 12.  Meanwhile, Tech had the opposite reputation and at times during KSU’s run of dominance over Tech, flags have bitten the Red Raiders.

Since 2016, when the current KSU winning streak began, Tech has been penalized an average of 6.4 times for 65.5 yards against the Wildcats.  KSU has been flagged an average of 6.2 times for 52.1 yards in those same games.

That difference may not seem like much but we must keep in mind that only twice in those seven games (2021 and 2022) did Tech have fewer penalty yards than KSU.  What’s more, on several occasions, Tech’s penalties have been backbreaking.

In 2017, three KSU scoring drives were aided by Tech penalties.  That included a third-down pass interference by Red Raider safety Jaylon Lane on the 4th-quarter drive when KSU tied the game.

Two years later, Tech committed back-to-back pass interference penalties, with one taking place on third down, to keep a late third-quarter field goal drive alive resulting in a 23-17 K-State lead.  The Cats would win the game 30-27.

When the teams met in 2020, offensive lineman Ethan Carde was flagged for holding on 4th down erasing a Henry Colombi scramble that would have given Tech a new set of downs.  Tech was forced to punt down 24-21 with 5:32 left in the game.  One possession later, KSU would score the knockout blow on a 70-yard Deuce Vaughn catch-and-run as KSU would win 31-21.

Maybe the most famous penalties in Texas Tech history came via Devin Drew in 2021.  He called for hands-to-the-face when KSU faced 3rd and 34 with 11:34 in the game and Tech leading 24-19.  KSU would score the game-winning TD five plays later.  Two days after that, Matt Wells was fired by AD Kirby Hocutt.

This year, Tech must be disciplined and avoid the critical penalties that have been a problem at points so far.  These two teams are rather equal in terms of talent so an ill-time infraction by either team could once again tip the scales.