Evaluating the Red Raiders’ loss to Colorado

by Junna Base November 10, 2024

Shedeur Sanders threw three touchdown passes and ran for another, and No. 24 Colorado stormed back from an early deficit to beat the Texas Tech football team 41-27 on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium, putting the Buffaloes in the running for the Big 12 championship game remained.

Tech (6-4, 4-3 in the Big 12) led 13-0 after starting its first three series with a 17-yard touchdown pass on field goals from 53 and 39 yards by Jalin Conyers and Gino Garcia had finished. The Red Raiders went cold and Colorado (7-2, 5-1) rebounded with four touchdowns and a field goal in the next five possessions.

Tech got within 34-27 with 2:12 left on Behren Morton’s second TD pass to Conyers, this time from 21 yards. The Red Raiders got the ball back with 1:03 left, but Morton fumbled while passing and Shilo Sanders returned the ball 6 yards for a game-winning touchdown.

Tahj Brooks caught 31 carries for 137 yards and a touchdown, breaking Byron Hanspard’s Tech career rushing record.

Shedeur Sanders completed passes of 23 yards to LaJohntay Wester, 5 yards to Will Sheppard and 24 yards to Travis Hunter. Wester and Hunter reached the perimeter on wide receiver screens, and Sheppard grabbed a one-handed grab on a fade route to the corner of the end zone.

The last two of those touchdowns gave Colorado a 31-20 lead.

Offense: F

Started strong but continued a pattern of fading for long stretches. The management has been whipped too many times. Colorado’s run defense hasn’t been anything special this season, but it blocked Brooks for much of the game.

Defense: D

Jacob Rodriguez (17 tackles, one sack) filled the stat sheet again and the unit gave the team a chance for longer periods. But shutting down Shedeur Sanders and his receivers the entire game was asking too much.

Special Teams: C

J’Koby Williams broke two big kickoff returns and Gino Garcia made two field goals. A failed fake punt in tech territory was a killer.

Coaching: D

I have to find a way to land a knockout blow after the Red Raiders score on their first three drives. With the game in the balance, there were nine empty possessions in a 10-series stretch.

Overall: F

Tech had a 13-point lead, an energized crowd and a chance to make an even stronger case for the Big 12 championship game. The missed opportunity lowers the cap this year and leaves the program unable to break through.

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