How Texas Longhorns Must Use Texas Tech Win to Build Momentum for Final Stretch

LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Longhorns may not have put up 82 points against Texas Tech, but Saturday's 34-13 win in Lubbock has given the team a much-needed confidence boost before it prepares for the tough road ahead.

The Longhorns had a slow start against the Red Raiders, but a huge hit from Quandre Diggs—which knocked out quarterback Patrick Mahomes from the game—changed the momentum.

"It was just a good hit," Diggs said. "I came in, saw he was running and did what I was supposed to do to get my team fired up. Those are plays I need to make each and every week to get the guys going and do what I do."

It certainly got the team going.

Running back Malcolm Brown picked up his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season. And quarterback Tyrone Swoopes bounced back following an atrocious fumble that was recovered by Texas Tech in the end zone to give the Red Raiders an early lead, and he finished the game completing 13-of-25 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown.

"I [asked] them before the game, 'What team will show up today? Is it going to be a team that plays with a lot of passion, a lot of confidence? A team that has a lot of pride and just understands what we have to go get done?'" Texas head coach Charlie Strong said following Saturday's game.

And the head coach got the confident team.

Some critics will disregard the win because it was against a struggling Texas Tech team. But the Longhorns need to ignore any critics and use the momentum from Saturday's game to their advantage.

Strong has been brutally honest when discussing the ups and downs of his Longhorns; the team has been inconsistent all season. 

Even though there is still work that needs to be done, Saturday's game was one of the most complete performances of the year.

"I think we can all get better in each phase of the game, but we played a well-rounded game and [have] got to get back to work this week," Diggs said. "We are going to enjoy this one right now, but once tomorrow hits, we have to get back to work."

November is one of the most significant and telling months in college football. It's the last chance for competitors to put up or shut up.

If the Longhorns want to make it to a bowl game, Texas has to emulate the game plan from Texas Tech for the gauntlet final stretch of the season against West Virginia, Oklahoma State and TCU.

"There are three more games to go," Strong said. "We have West Virginia at home next week, so it's great to get this win, and now we can get back home and get ready to play West Virginia."

Taylor Gaspar is Bleacher Report's featured columnist covering the Texas Longhorns. Follow Taylor on Twitter: @Taylor_Gaspar.