Arkansas runs wild against depleted Texas Tech defense in Liberty Bowl

Friday night was a game the Texas Tech football program would like to forget. Dominated by Arkansas in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to the tune of 39-26, the Red Raiders saw their dreams of a nine-win season and the program's first four-game bowl winning streak evaporate into the Memphis air.

After falling behind 21-3 in the first quarter, the Red Raiders clawed back to make it a game at halftime trailing only 24-19. However, the Red Raiders were held scoreless in the second half until there was only 3:06 left to play. By that time, Arkansas had put the game out of reach thanks to 18 unanswered points.

This was the first bowl loss as a college head coach for Texas Tech's Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders limp into the offseason with a little less momentum than they had hoped to have. So let's take a look at some rapid reactions to what we saw in Friday night's defeat.

Texas Tech QB Will Hammond struggles in his first career start

The main difference in this game was what each starting quarterback gave his team. While Texas Tech's Will Hammond looked like a typical true freshman at times, Arkansas' junior star Taylen Green made the game look easy.

Hammond was just 20-34 passing (58.8%) for 280 yards and one TD. He was also picked off twice and could have easily been picked off a third time were it not for a sensational catch by wide receiver Caled Douglas who pulled a sure-fire interception out of the hands of an Arkansas defensive back in the first half.

As for Green, playing against one of the worst secondaries in the country, one that was without its best corner, Brayln Lux (who opted out of the game), he threw for 341 yards on just 11-21 passing for two touchdowns. What's more, he ran for 81 yards and another TD on 15 carries.

In a game in which both teams were missing a ton of key players on offense, each team needed its quarterback to make up for the absences in their supporting cast by being special. Green was exactly that while Hammond looked like a deer in headlights for long stretches of the game and that proved to be where the Razorbacks had their greatest advantage.

Texas Tech was hopeless without Tahj Brooks in 2024

With Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech's 1,500-yard rusher, opting out of the game, the Red Raider offense was without its calming presence and it showed. Sure, the Red Raiders were able to run for 217 yards (just one less than Arkansas), but in crucial moments, especially on third down and near the goal line, it was obvious that Brooks' absence was impactful.

In the two games Brooks sat out this year, this game and week two's loss at Washington State, Tech was outscored 76-42. What's more, an offense that averaged over 30 points per game in the regular season put up just 21 points per game when Brooks was not in the lineup.

That's a frightening thought heading into a future without Brooks who is now out of eligibility. Of course, Tech will find a way to adapt without Brooks in the mix (as we will discuss in a moment) but his importance to the 2024 team was again underscored on Friday night as the Red Raiders were unable to dictate terms without their star running back to set the tone.

J'Koby Williams impresses in his first start for Texas Tech

The Red Raiders did have a few bright spots on the night despite the lopsided loss. One of those was true freshman running back J'Koby Williams.

In his first career start, he ran for 123 yards on just 15 rushes. The highlight of his night was a 54-yard TD run in the first half. On that play, his explosiveness was easy to see.

Next year, Williams could be a breakout star for the Red Raiders. What's more, a backfield with Williams, fellow true freshman Cam Dickey, and junior-to-be transfer from USC, Quentin Joyner could be dynamic for the Red Raiders.

It was easy to see why Texas Tech has invested so heavily in transfer defenisve backs

The Texas Tech secondary should be absolutely embarrassed by its showing on Friday night. Allowing an average of 16.2 yards per reception to a team missing its two top wide receivers and its top tight end is unacceptable regardless of who was missing from the lineup.

Time and again, Arkansas wide receivers were running so wide open that there wasn't even a Red Raider defensive back in the camera frame. On other occasions, Tech failed to make routine tackles in the open field on receivers who had come up with catches making the Razorbacks' passing game look like an unstoppable force.

Sure, Lux deciding to opt out was a factor. When he didn't play this year, this defense struggled mightily.

However, there is no excuse for a performance the likes of which we saw from the Red Raider secondary against Arkansas. If there was any question before (and there shouldn't have been) it is obvious why the Red Raiders have signed five transfer defensive backs from the portal this month.