Texas Tech seemed poised to seal the game as they drove towards a potential game-winning field goal. However, true freshman quarterback Will Hammond, who stepped in for the injured Behren Morton, fumbled on a crucial third-down play at the TCU 27-yard line with 1:38 remaining. Hammond was caught off guard as he attempted to make a play and was met with a powerful hit from TCU’s Hakeem Ajijolaiya.
Despite his own struggles, including three turnovers consisting of a fumble and two interceptions, Hoover managed to complete 21 of 32 passes. His performance was instrumental in helping the Horned Frogs improve to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 play, marking their first consecutive conference wins since an undefeated regular season in 2022. In addition to the game-winner, he also threw an 8-yard touchdown to tight end DJ Rodgers in the fourth quarter.
Texas Tech, now with a record of 5-3 (3-2 Big 12), had taken a commanding 31-14 lead after Hammond found the end zone with both a touchdown pass and a run early in the second half. Morton, the original starter, did not return to the game after sustaining a left shoulder injury just before halftime.
TCU began the game strong, establishing a 14-3 lead in the first quarter. Savion Williams was a standout player, converting a direct snap into a remarkable 35-yard touchdown run and later making a 75-yard catch-and-run for another score. Williams, a senior and former high school quarterback, showcased his skills by spinning past a defender on the run and then outpacing opponents after catching Hoover’s pass.
Williams finished with 11 carries totaling 72 yards and caught three passes for 81 yards. On the other side, Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks, the leading rusher in the Big 12, recorded 121 yards on 30 carries. In addition, place-kicker Reese Burkhardt and Hammond both scored on 4-yard touchdown runs. Burkhardt’s touchdown was notably unconventional, coming off a fake field goal where the ball was tossed by punter holder Jack Burgess after a fumble recovery.
Brooks has impressively run for no less than 95 yards in 18 consecutive games, with 15 of those surpassing the 100-yard mark. The only FBS player to achieve a longer consecutive streak in this regard since 1996 is Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim, who managed 19 games from 2020 to 2022.
In summary, Texas Tech is facing challenges with two consecutive losses in the Big 12 after starting the season strong with narrow victories. While Burkhardt managed to score a touchdown, he fell short on a 50-yard field-goal attempt in the second quarter following Hoover’s initial interception. Hammond finished with 121 yards on 10 completions, while Morton had 137 yards from 13 completions before his injury.
TCU’s comeback was thrilling but overshadowed by their ongoing struggle with turnovers, totaling 16 in their last four games, which have resulted in 58 points for their opponents. Looking ahead, Texas Tech is set to face No. 10 Iowa State next Saturday, while TCU will travel to Baylor for their next matchup.