Oklahoma State @ Texas Tech preview
Jones AT&T Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2009 ) Texas Tech 17, Oklahoma State 24
This series goes way back. Back when Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office, Les Horvath was putting together a Heisman Trophy campaign at Ohio State, and Oklahoma State was known as Oklahoma A&M.
The year was 1944, and that’s the last time Oklahoma State defeated Texas Tech in Lubbock. Oklahoma State (5-0), the No. 18 team in the country, has a chance to snap that 66-year drought this weekend when it visits Texas Tech (3-2).
The Cowboys’ 1944 team won only two games that season. This year’s team is off to an impressive start and has a chance to take another step toward the Big 12 Conference South title.
Last week, Oklahoma State rolled to a 54-28 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Cowboys had only a 21-17 lead at halftime, but outscored the Cajuns 37-7 in the second half.
Junior quarterback Brandon Weeden finished with five touchdown passes and 351 passing yards. Sophomore wide receiver Justin Blackmon had a career-high 13 catches, 190 yards and two touchdowns. And senior running back Kendall Hunter rushed for 126 yards and one touchdown.
Oklahoma State’s defense played well too, holding the Cajuns to only 34 rushing yards on 25 attempts. Senior linebacker Orie Lemon led the team with nine tackles and sophomore defensive lineman Nigel Nicholas had two sacks.
The Cowboys will likely be without junior wide receiver Hubert Anyiam, who suffered a sprained ankle last week.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, will look to build off its 45-38 victory over Baylor last week. The Red Raiders had lost two straight going into that game, but the offense clearly came through with a season-high 635 yards.
Tech senior quarterback Taylor Potts completed 42 of 59 passes for 462 yards and four touchdowns. Senior running back Baron Batch rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown and senior receiver Detron Lewis had 95 receiving yards and a score.
Defensively, the Red Raiders struggled to contain Bears quarterback Robert Griffin, who threw for 384 yards and two scores and added two more rushing touchdowns.
Still, Texas Tech’s defense did enough to win. Freshman defensive back Tre’ Porter had a team-high 12 tackles and nose tackle Colby Whitlock recorded a sack.
On top of their impressive home-field advantage throughout their history against the Cowboys, the Red Raiders lead the all-time series 21-13-3. But, it’s worth noting, Oklahoma State only played in Lubbock five times between 1944 and 1996 before the Big 12 was formed.