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The obvious question from this snapshot in time, this clear distinction between what is and what you want it to be, is how much money are the billionaire boosters at Texas Tech willing to spend?
How much more money will it cost to take a magical season for the ages, and push through the stratosphere of competing with the Big Ten and SEC?
Because that’s how far away Texas Tech, with the highest-paid roster in college football, looked from winning a game of significance in Thursday’s humbling 23-0 loss to Oregon in the College Football Playoff Orange Bowl quarterfinal.
The scary thing for the billionaires from Double Eagle Capital, who spent $25 million on this year’s roster to get Texas Tech up to speed with the big boys of college football: Oregon isn’t exactly the top of the food chain.
Then again, the Ducks didn’t need to be. They simply had to hang around and let Texas Tech implode to move onto next week’s CFP Peach Bowl semifinal against the Indiana-Alabama winner.
Texas Tech had five turnovers; one interception (in the end zone), two fumbles and two turnovers on downs. The Red Raiders also missed a field goal, lined up offsides on a punt that gave Oregon a first down and wobbled through six three-and-outs on offense.
The team that won each of its 12 games by at least 22 points, had season lows in yards and explosion plays. Quarterback Behren Morton barely completed 50 percent of his passes, and the offense was shutout for the first time since 2021.
This after Texas Tech spoke all week about playing on the big stage, about the college football world getting to see what has been built in the West Texas town. They had a chance to continue reeling in the Big Ten and SEC (both looking vulnerable this postseason), and make a statement for the Big 12 and ACC.
Then ran into a motivated defensive buzzsaw against Oregon.
When you lose in the CFP like No.1 Oregon did last season against Ohio State, when you then give up 34 points to James Madison in this year’s first round game — 75 points in two CFP games under defense-first coach Dan Lanning — it’s not hard to see where this one was headed.
Lanning blasted his team after the JMU win, and then continued to stress defense wins championships over the holiday break.
They were better on the line of scrimmage, Lanning stressed. They were faster and more athletic and could contain Texas Tech’s run-first offense.
The Ducks then lined up and played their best defensive game in four seasons under Lanning. Were it not for a 50 yard run off a broken tackle by Texas Tech’s J’Koby Williams, the Red Raiders would’ve had 19 rushing yards.
“When you get embarrassed like we did defensively, there’s only one response,” Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher said earlier this week.
How fitting. How Texas Tech responds to this embarrassment — likely by throwing more money at the problem — will go a long way in determining if the Red Raiders are built to last.
Or just another bad investment, and poor rate of return.
Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oregon shows Texas Tech you need more than money to win in CFP Orange Bowl
Continue reading...
How much more money will it cost to take a magical season for the ages, and push through the stratosphere of competing with the Big Ten and SEC?
Because that’s how far away Texas Tech, with the highest-paid roster in college football, looked from winning a game of significance in Thursday’s humbling 23-0 loss to Oregon in the College Football Playoff Orange Bowl quarterfinal.
The scary thing for the billionaires from Double Eagle Capital, who spent $25 million on this year’s roster to get Texas Tech up to speed with the big boys of college football: Oregon isn’t exactly the top of the food chain.
Then again, the Ducks didn’t need to be. They simply had to hang around and let Texas Tech implode to move onto next week’s CFP Peach Bowl semifinal against the Indiana-Alabama winner.
Texas Tech had five turnovers; one interception (in the end zone), two fumbles and two turnovers on downs. The Red Raiders also missed a field goal, lined up offsides on a punt that gave Oregon a first down and wobbled through six three-and-outs on offense.
The team that won each of its 12 games by at least 22 points, had season lows in yards and explosion plays. Quarterback Behren Morton barely completed 50 percent of his passes, and the offense was shutout for the first time since 2021.
This after Texas Tech spoke all week about playing on the big stage, about the college football world getting to see what has been built in the West Texas town. They had a chance to continue reeling in the Big Ten and SEC (both looking vulnerable this postseason), and make a statement for the Big 12 and ACC.
Then ran into a motivated defensive buzzsaw against Oregon.
When you lose in the CFP like No.1 Oregon did last season against Ohio State, when you then give up 34 points to James Madison in this year’s first round game — 75 points in two CFP games under defense-first coach Dan Lanning — it’s not hard to see where this one was headed.
Lanning blasted his team after the JMU win, and then continued to stress defense wins championships over the holiday break.
They were better on the line of scrimmage, Lanning stressed. They were faster and more athletic and could contain Texas Tech’s run-first offense.
The Ducks then lined up and played their best defensive game in four seasons under Lanning. Were it not for a 50 yard run off a broken tackle by Texas Tech’s J’Koby Williams, the Red Raiders would’ve had 19 rushing yards.
“When you get embarrassed like we did defensively, there’s only one response,” Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher said earlier this week.
How fitting. How Texas Tech responds to this embarrassment — likely by throwing more money at the problem — will go a long way in determining if the Red Raiders are built to last.
Or just another bad investment, and poor rate of return.
Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oregon shows Texas Tech you need more than money to win in CFP Orange Bowl
Continue reading...
