Texas Tech Lights Up No. 5 West Virginia in Huge Upset

West Virginia’s hopes at an undefeated season are over after the Mountaineers were blown out by Texas Tech, losing 49-14. 

Heisman Trophy front-runner Geno Smith had his worst game of the year, completing 29-of-55 passes for 275 yards and just one touchdown. Smith and the offense had been averaging 52 points per game, but Tommy Tuberville’s stout defense shut down the team’s high-powered passing attack. 

For the Red Raiders, senior quarterback Seth Doege stole the spotlight. He completed 32-of-42 passes for 499 yards, six touchdown passes and an interception. 

Tight end Jace Amaro and wide receiver Darrin Moore were Doege’s favorite targets throughout the game. Amaro finished with five catches for 156 yards and a touchdown, while Moore racked up 92 yards and three touchdowns on nine catches.

The Red Raiders opened up a sizable lead by exploding for three unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter, with the first half ending 35-7 in favor of Texas Tech. 

The Mountaineers were unable to find the rhythm on offense that had helped them climb to the No. 5 ranking in this week’s AP Top 25 poll.

On defense, West Virginia performed poorly once again. But in the previous two games against Texas and Baylor, the offense was able to compensate for the deficiencies.

However, Smith struggled to throw the ball against the Red Raiders’ defense, and they also failed to adjust to extremely windy conditions in Lubbock.

The Texas Tech victory leaves Kansas State as the only undefeated Big 12 team. Both the Red Raiders and the Mountaineers are now 2-1, and both have tough schedules in the next few weeks.

West Virginia will face Kansas State, TCU, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma in the next four weeks, while Texas Tech will play consecutive games against the Horned Frogs, the Wildcats and Texas.