MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a thrilling contest at the Liberty Bowl on Friday night, Arkansas secured a 39-26 victory over Texas Tech, buoyed by an impressive performance from quarterback Taylen Green. He passed for a total of 341 yards, scored two touchdowns, and added 81 rushing yards to lead his team to victory. The Razorbacks accumulated an impressive 573 yards of total offense over the course of the game.
Green’s performance came alongside a strong showing from his teammates, but he emphasized that it was a collective effort that led to their success. “All the stats you see, I didn’t do it by myself,” he remarked after the game. For Texas Tech, running back J’Koby Williams managed to rush for 123 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Will Hammond threw for 280 yards and one touchdown.
The Red Raiders were faced with a significant pre-game setback when their lead running back, Tahj Brooks, who had an outstanding season with 1,505 rushing yards, chose not to participate due to personal reasons. Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire expressed disappointment over the team’s execution, stating, “Arkansas out-executed us at the end of the day.”
The game’s first half featured several big plays, including a remarkable 54-yard run by Williams and a stunning 94-yard touchdown pass from Green to Dazmin James, setting a Liberty Bowl record for the longest pass play. Following this explosive first half, Arkansas quickly built a commanding 21-3 lead. Although Texas Tech made an effort to close the gap before halftime, the Razorbacks effectively controlled the later stages of the game.
In the second half, Arkansas made strategic defensive adjustments, particularly focusing on limiting Hammond’s ability to run. They altered their defense to push Texas Tech into a reliance on the passing game. Coach Sam Pittman explained the plan for Green, saying, “We went in the game planning on running him a little bit more and put in some new plays for him to run.”
Conversely, Texas Tech struggled with the issues of having a new, inexperienced quarterback after Behren Morton underwent shoulder surgery post-season. McGuire noted that while the team had its moments of brilliance, they also fell prey to the same issues that plagued them throughout the year, particularly giving up big plays.
Looking ahead, Texas Tech will need to address its defensive weaknesses, as evidenced by their struggles against the Razorbacks’ passing game. The team has already begun taking steps to improve, parting ways with their defensive coordinator and secondary coach in order to enhance their performance in future seasons.
Arkansas, on the other hand, is taking proactive measures to strengthen its roster. Coach Pittman is actively signing new players through the transfer portal, particularly focusing on reinforcing the offensive line to prepare for upcoming challenges.
As both teams prepare for the next season, the echoes of this intense matchup will inspire them to refine their strategies and bolster their teams in pursuit of greater success.
