Texas Tech vs. Texas: Score, Grades and Analysis

The Texas Longhorns pulled out in front early and only improved down the stretch to give the Texas Tech Red Raiders their fifth straight loss in a 41-16 victory on Thanksgiving in Austin, Texas.

The Big 12 Twitter account summed up the Longhorns' victory:

Things didn't start off rosy for Mack Brown's side. The Red Raiders struck first to open the scoring in a far from conventional manner.

After the two sides went back and forth with a few failed drives, Texas Tech lined up to punt on 4th-and-17, but punter Ryan Erxleben pulled up just shy of booting the ball and sprinted down the right sideline. A huge hole opened up, and his surprising speed along with some key blocks resulted in a 51-yard touchdown to put Tech up 7-0 early.

As you can see in the video, the kid has wheels. Who says punters aren't athletes?

Not only did it put Texas Tech up early, but it proved to be the team's longest run of the season thus far, per Red Raider Sports' Aaron Dickens:

That was about all Kliff Kingsbury's squad did that was highlight-reel worthy all game long.

After a solid ground game from Joe Bergeron and Malcolm Brown set up a Texas field goal, Case McCoy offered the only "splash" play of the first half in the passing game when he hit Mike Davis for the go-ahead touchdown late in the first quarter to put the Longhorns up 10-7.

It was more of the same in the second quarter. A short Texas drive set up another Anthony Fera field goal, and five minutes later the Longhorns marched down the field in a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped off by Bergeron's 12-yard score.

The Red Raiders hit a field goal just before the half to cut the halftime deficit to 20-10, but this impressive run from Bergeron made its impact:

Bergeron was a beast in the first half with 75 yards on just nine carries, but he made an early mistake to start the third quarter by fumbling to give Texas Tech good field position. Three plays later, the Red Raiders botched a cross-field pass back to Mayfield on a trick play.

Texas recovered and didn't look back.

What immediately resulted was an eight-play, 51-yard drive fueled by a handful of Brown runs and finished off by McCoy's one-yard touchdown plunge to make the score 27-10.

Late in the third, the Red Raiders nearly made it a two-possession game when they marched inside the Texas 30-yard line. But that drive stalled as they turned the ball over on downs.

That drive was really indicative of the whole game. Tech could move the ball but couldn't come close enough to capitalize and generate points.

ESPN's Jake Trotter attributed the Longhorns' newfound defensive success to Texas' new defensive coordinator:

When the Longhorns got the ball back, they put the game out of reach. Like they did all night, the duo of Brown and Bergeron on the ground put McCoy in position for a seven-yard touchdown pass to Davis—his second of the night.

Just like that, Texas was up 34-10 early in the fourth quarter and the Red Raiders' window of opportunity had closed.

Michael Brewer replaced Mayfield at quarterback for Tech, and he would score on his first drive—which was also Tech's only offensive touchdown of the contest. To cap off a quick drive, Brewer connected with Jace Amaro for an 11-yard score.

A failed two-point attempt meant that Texas still held a three-possession lead, 34-16. 

The Red Raiders would get the ball right back on a Texas punt, but the ball bounced off one of Texas Tech's punt return blockers right in front of the end zone and the Longhorns recovered.

Tyrone Swoopes came in at quarterback to relieve McCoy, and he rushed it in from one yard out to give the Longhorns a 41-16 lead as The Daily Texan noted:

After Texas Tech's crazy fake punt for a touchdown, this game was all Texas. Instead of that play shifting the momentum in the Red Raiders' favor, it actually sparked the Longhorns' best play. 

The Red Raiders fell to 7-5 to close out their regular season, while the Longhorns are now 8-3 with a test next week at No. 9 Baylor looming.

Grades

Case McCoy, QB, Texas: B+

The senior quarterback saved his worst performances of the season for this recent stretch, but his ability to control the game was a huge impact in this one.

He finished just 10-of-19 with 139 yards and two touchdowns, but his greatest success came in what he didn't do. He avoided throwing an interception all game after throwing eight in his last four appearances.

With the run game he had all game long, he didn't need to push the envelope. That resulted in a clean game from him.

McCoy even put in work on the ground himself, with 18 yards and a big one-yard touchdown to put his team up 17 points in the third quarter. That was his best rushing performance of the season. 

Baker Mayfield, QB, Texas Tech: C-

As Kingsbury's quarterbacks always do, Mayfield was able to rack up plenty of yards. But it wasn't nearly enough to lead his team to a win.

Mayfield threw for 237 yards on 24-of-44 passing, but he failed to throw a touchdown and tossed one interception on the day.

In fact, it took bringing in backup Brewer for the Red Raiders to score an offensive touchdown.

Joe Bergeron and Malcolm Brown, RBs, Texas: A-

Texas had a big day on the ground, and it was practically all because of Brown and Bergeron.

The duo combined for 44 of Texas' 61 rushing attempts. Brown took 27 carries for 128 yards and Bergeron added 17 for 104 yards and a touchdown.

An early third-quarter fumble hampered Bergeron's final stat line, but it didn't end up producing any points for the Red Raiders.

All in all, these two studs had themselves a day in the backfield. 

What's Next

Texas Tech's regular season is done. The Red Raiders finish at 7-5, and they will be patiently awaiting an invite to a bowl game while they ponder on where they'd be had they avoided a five-game losing streak to finish the season.

Their opponent isn't so lucky. The Longhorns have a road date with No. 9 Baylor to close out the season. A win there would keep Texas' bid for a 10-win season alive heading into bowl season.