The No. 10 Texas Tech Red Raiders didn’t just survive their wild 53-48 win over West Virginia on Saturday night, they also cashed in on a trio of late sacks that pushed their season total to 28 and helped raise money for Ronald McDonald House Southwest.
Texas Tech, now 8-1 and 5-1 in the Big 12, needed every bit of that late defensive pressure to hold off the Mountaineers in Lubbock. The game stretched into Sunday morning, but the Red Raiders got the stops they needed when it mattered most.
The first of the three sacks came with West Virginia facing 3rd & 7 at the WVU 28. Defensive lineman Mateen Ibirogba brought down quarterback Michael Hawkins for a three-yard loss, forcing a 4th & 10.
Then, with 2:00 left in the fourth quarter, outside linebacker Trey White made another huge play by sacking Hawkins at the WVU 14 and sending the ball back to Texas Tech with under two minutes to go.
White wasn’t done there. On West Virginia’s final drive, with 95 yards to cover, he chased Hawkins into the end zone on the first play of the possession. Hawkins stumbled, and the result was the game-clinching safety at 1:24 in the fourth quarter.
Those sacks carried extra weight beyond the scoreboard. Every Texas Tech sack this season adds to the Quarterback S.A.C.K. effort, which supports Ronald McDonald House Southwest. Fans still have a chance to donate with three regular-season games left, plus any postseason games.
Texas Tech Athletics has worked with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Southwest for more than 25 years. Fans can pledge any dollar amount for each sack the Red Raider defense records during the season, with all proceeds going toward families who need support.
The Ronald McDonald House in Lubbock gives families a place to stay while a child receives medical care, including newborns in the NICU and children going through cancer treatment or other care. Families connected to Covenant Children’s and UMC Children’s can also use the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms inside those hospitals for a break, snacks and basic comforts like showers, laundry and coffee.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Recruiting Surge Is Starting To Feel Very Real
Texas Techs recruiting momentum has taken another notable step with the verbal commitment of 4-star linebacker Jeremiah Proctor, a prospect who had previously pledged to Pittsburgh. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound defender from Gainesville, Georgia, gives the Red Raiders another high-upside piece for the 2027 class, and his profile fits the kind of national reach the staff has been trying to build. According to 247Sports, Proctor is ranked No. 372 overall and No. 29 among linebackers nationally.
For a program trying to turn recent recruiting buzz into something more durable, this is the kind of addition that matters beyond the headline. Texas Techs 2027 class is already sitting at No. 8 nationally, and landing a player with Proctors size and ranking only adds to the sense that the Red Raiders are making real progress on the trail. The bigger question now is whether they can keep stacking wins like this and hold that momentum as the cycle keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Gets Early Test That Should Reveal Plenty Fast
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Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, the former Illini guard, is part of the Texas Tech picture now, while All-Big 12 selection Darrion Williams gives the Red Raiders a proven centerpiece. They will have to navigate this one without JT Toppin, who is sidelined with an ACL injury, but the setting at United Supermarkets Arena should still tell plenty about where both teams stand this early. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Fans Had Two Tough Reasons To Notice This Roundup
Texas Tech fans had a couple of unrelated but very different reasons to keep one eye on the sports roundup this week. On Sunday, David Bailey made his presence felt for the New York Jets by sacking Patrick Mahomes II and forcing a fumble against the Kansas City Chiefs, a reminder of the pass-rush talent the Red Raiders once had in the program. At the same time, the soccer team is gearing up for its Big 12 Tournament opener against UCF, adding a postseason note to the days conversation.
There was also plenty of attention on the womens side, where the Lady Raiders are set to host Lamar and will see Stephanie Okechukwu, the tallest player in NCAA womens basketball history, come through Lubbock. Volleyball, meanwhile, is still searching for relief after a loss to Arizona extended its skid to 14 straight and left the Red Raiders without a Big 12 win this season, a tough stretch that has made every remaining result feel a little more urgent. [Read more 🡒]