When the fan base is grumbling, and the team is trying to snap a losing streak, going on the road against an undefeated team in November is the last place any team wants to find themselves. But this is a classic opportunity for the message to be “No one believes in us”/”How do you respond when things go poorly”/insert coach speak slogan about adversity here. For a Texas Tech week 10 upset in Ames to happen, it has to start with living up to “The Brand.”
One Or Two Quarterbacks To Play?
As a whole, the Red Raiders come into this game banged up. Linebacker Bryce Ramirez and defensive back Javeon Wilcox have already been ruled out. Texas Tech also has 10 players listed as questionable, including quarterback Behren Morton. Morton suffered a shoulder injury last week against TCU and missed the entire second half of the game. As a result, true freshman Will Hammond got his first meaningful snaps of the season against the Horned Frogs. Even with all of the injured players listed, head coach Joey McGuire said on Monday that he doesn’t think any of the 10 players designated as questionable won’t be able to play. ESPN’s Pete Thamel also confirmed on Wednesday that Morton is expected to start against Matt Campbell’s Cyclones after a good practice on Tuesday.
Texas Tech Week 10 Game Plan: Lean Heavily On Brooks
Whoever plays quarterback should be a minor part of the Texas Tech week 10 game plan. It has to start and stay with Big 12 rushing leader Tahj Brooks for all four quarters. Brooks only needs 23 yards to become the third player from Texas Tech and ninth from the Big 12 to run for 4,000 in a career. He also is just 158 yards away from being the program’s all-time leading rusher. Brooks averages 132.1 yards per game, which ranks third nationally. He and national rushing leader Ashton Jeanty are the only rushers with at least 100 yards in every game this season.
The script should be very favorable for Brooks to have a big game. Iowa State’s defense has struggled against the run all season. The Cyclones are allowing an average of 170 yards rushing per game. That is the second worst in the Big 12. A Texas Tech week 10 upset could look very similar to what UCF did in Iowa State’s last game before their bye week. The Cyclones gave up 354 in a 38-35 win over UCF two weeks ago. That was the most rushing yards allowed since 2016, which was Campbell’s first season as Iowa State’s head coach. Opponents have broken four runs of 40-plus yards, including three that have gone for over 50.
Defense Needs To Shore Up Last 25%
While the offensive game plan seems obvious enough, the defense still needs to do its part to help snap this mini-losing streak. Last week against TCU, this defense had some tremendous highs and lows. They created three turnovers and put pressure on the quarterback for most of the game. But TCU had three touchdown plays over 35-plus yards, including a back-breaking 84-yard touchdown pass that ultimately won the game. This Texas Tech defense should not be expected to stop Rocco Becht and company. After all, the lowest point total they have held any P4 opponent to is 22 points.
Only two times have the defense held the opponent to under 400 yards of total offense, with their best effort limiting North Texas to 353 yards. But if this defense can at least make Iowa State drive the ball, it will give them a chance. Becht has thrown five interceptions in seven games this year, including two against UCF. Eliminating the big play and making Iowa State settle for field goals instead of touchdowns is the goal.
Is “The Brand” Real In Lubbock?
A quick refresher on what “The Brand” is. McGuire has stated that this program is to be “the toughest, hardest-working, most competitive team in the country.” While the strategic game plan is important in this one, it isn’t the critical factor. McGuire is still trying to build this program into a sustainable contender in the Big 12. Losing to TCU meant that the Red Raiders would not be playing meaningful games (a chance to play for the conference championship) in November for what is now a streak that extends back to 2008. McGuire has outlined there are still plenty of things to play for. He is right about that. If Texas Tech were to finish the season 9-3, it would be the Red Raiders’ first nine-game win regular season since 2008.
It would mark the first time Texas Tech has appeared in four straight bowl games since a streak of 10 straight bowl appearances from 2000-2010. A bowl victory would be the first time in program history of winning four straight bowl games in four consecutive seasons (Texas Tech won four straight bowl games once between 2009-2013, but missed a bowl game in 2011). At one point in the TCU game, a true freshman was playing quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. Plenty of young players have seen the field defensively this season. A Texas Tech week 10 response to feel good about the trajectory of this program would be to see a competitive team against Iowa State. A team that won’t fold like a lawn chair if they get down early. “The Brand” should always be competitive with any team in the Big 12.
Texas Tech Week 10 Prediction
The Red Raiders haven’t lost three straight games since 2020. However, Texas Tech has won the last two games against Iowa State after losing five straight in the series. In terms of how to lose games, Texas Tech has experienced the worst kind of losses in consecutive weeks. A blowout one week and a collapse the very next. That is all compounded with the fact that McGuire’s team controlled its own Big 12 destiny. McGuire has shown a way to get his team to rally when their backs are up against the wall.
Texas Tech should look like a galvanized team. That said, the Cyclones just have “it” this season. The Cyclones are fresh coming off a bye week. Even if Hammond has to come in the game, they were able to do some game planning for him. This game should be tight going into the fourth quarter, but the ball will break in favor of the home team. Iowa State makes school history with this victory over the Red Raiders, starting the season 8-0 for the first time ever.
Iowa State 31, Texas Tech 21
