As Texas Tech gears up for a high-stakes clash with Oregon in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl, the Red Raiders offense faces arguably its toughest test of the season - a Ducks defense that’s been one of the stingiest in the country.
Led by Dan Lanning, Oregon has built a defensive unit that’s not just talented on paper - they’ve backed it up week after week. The Ducks are giving up just 16.3 points per game, which puts them at No. 10 nationally in scoring defense.
And when it comes to total defense? They’re even better, sitting at No. 7 in the country.
This is a group that flies to the ball, plays with physicality, and rarely gives up the big play.
So how does Texas Tech plan to navigate that kind of defensive firepower? Offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich offered some insight ahead of the matchup, particularly when it comes to how much quarterback Behren Morton might be asked to contribute with his legs.
Morton, who’s been working his way back to full health, isn’t exactly known for his mobility - and Leftwich made it clear that the Red Raiders aren’t planning to overhaul the playbook to turn him into a dual-threat option.
“I mean, that’s not really, he’s not really too much of a runner to begin with,” Leftwich said. “So that’s not something that we’ll major in.”
That tracks with what we’ve seen from Morton all season. He’s more of a traditional pocket passer - smart, accurate, and capable of making all the throws, but not someone who’s going to torch a defense on designed QB runs. That’s a contrast to someone like Will Hammond, who can break contain and make defenses pay with his legs.
That said, Morton’s mobility isn’t completely off the table.
“I do think he’s to the point where he’s mobile enough now, like a third down scramble, he could go run for a first down and those kinds of things,” Leftwich added. “So you feel a little bit better about him being able to avoid pressures and those kinds of things, but he’s not going to turn into Taysom Hill out there.”
Translation: Morton can move if he needs to - just don’t expect him to be a featured part of the ground game. And given the physical nature of Oregon’s defense, that’s probably the smart play.
The Ducks are fast, disciplined, and they hit hard. Putting Morton in harm’s way unnecessarily would be a risky proposition, especially considering the bumps and bruises he’s already endured this season.
“We’ll still kind of limit him in the run game still,” Leftwich reiterated.
So while Morton’s legs might be a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option, the Red Raiders will be leaning on their offensive line, their backs, and Morton’s arm to find answers against one of the best defenses in the nation. If Texas Tech is going to pull off the upset in Miami, it’s going to come down to execution, timing, and keeping their quarterback upright - not turning him into a runner.