Cody Hodges doesn’t get anywhere near enough recognition for the way he efficiently and effectively cut through opposing Big 12 defenses back in 2005, if you ask me. I mean, I’ve written about Hodges and that really fun 2005 season that included a trip to the Cotton Bowl, but I have focused specifically on everything including the context of the whole offense from that year.
We’re continuing to move through the Texas Tech Red Raiders record book, examining some of the top offenses that Lubbock has seen since 2000 (and there have been some truly incredible groups that have scored a ton of points and produced a ton of yards).
And now we’re taking a look at the group that helped get Mike Leach to the Cotton Bowl for the first time as a head coach.
Texas Tech football history: The 2005 Red Raiders offense shouldn’t get overlooked
Looking at Hodges for a moment and we’ll find that he managed to complete over 66 percent of his passes while throwing for 4197 yards and 31 touchdowns. That helped this team score 39.4 points per game (which was good for No. 4 nationally in the category).
Texas Tech averaged 495.8 total yards of offense per game (5950 across the 12 games the Red Raiders played) and managed to get 388.8 passing yards per game. That, folks, is a fun way to move the ball down the field.
Oh, and we’ve got to note how Joel Filani was Texas Tech’s only 1000 yard receiver during the 2005 season. That shouldn’t go unnoticed either. Filani managed to rack up 1007 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions. That’s really solid.
As a result of all of that offensive success (and when partnered with a solid, capable defense), Texas Tech managed to go out and win nine games and make it to the Cotton Bowl (where the Red Raiders lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide). All in all, a pretty strong season for Texas Tech.