WVU walked out of one of the wildest games of the season with a 53-48 loss to Texas Tech, and the feeling afterward was less shock than frustration. The Mountaineers put up 48 points on the road in the Big 12 and still came away empty, a result that turned the game into another brutal reminder of how thin the margin has been all season.
The first half was the kind of defensive collapse that can wreck a game before it ever settles in. WVU forced just one punt, and the rest of Texas Tech’s first-half possessions were a parade of quick-strike touchdowns: 5 plays, 65 yards; 1 play, 71 yards; 7 plays, 75 yards; 8 plays, 75 yards; 2 plays, 81 yards; 6 plays, 75 yards. By halftime, the Red Raiders had 41 points and the WVU defense had little to show for it.
The second half looked more like a different team. WVU held Texas Tech scoreless in the third quarter and made the Red Raiders work harder for their points in the fourth.
But that only sharpened the frustration, because the damage from the opening 30 minutes had already been done. The pass defense remained a problem throughout, with coverage either drawing pass interference or giving up explosive completions.
Even when Texas Tech quarterback put the ball in harms way, WVU defenders couldn’t turn those chances into pass breakups or interceptions.
Offensively, WVU did enough to win if the defense had held up. The Mountaineers scored 48 points and even grabbed a 48-41 lead at the end of the third quarter after the defense forced a punt.
But the offense couldn’t deliver the knockout blow when the game called for it. On that possession, WVU went three plays for minus-4 yards and punted after a sequence of a 1-yard run up the middle, another 0-yard run up the middle, a 5-yard penalty, and an incompletion on third-and-14.
The same thing happened again after the defense forced a field goal on Texas Tech’s next drive. With another chance to stretch the lead to two scores, WVU managed only three plays for 9 yards before punting.
That series went 1 yard run up the middle, 8-yard pass, 0-yard run up the middle. Texas Tech answered with a touchdown on the next possession and took the lead for good.
That pattern has become part of the story. The offense has been productive, but it has repeatedly failed to land the kind of drive that puts a game out of reach.
Michael Hawkins Jr. had thrown the ball well for much of the day when the play calling allowed it, but once Texas Tech seized control and forced WVU into predictable passing situations, he struggled to get rid of the ball. Against a talented defense, the Mountaineers were dangerous when they kept things balanced and guessing.
Once they became predictable, the Red Raiders’ front took over.
That’s what makes this loss sting so much. Coming out of the bye week, WVU had a chance to build something real down the stretch.
Instead, the Mountaineers are left with the same familiar questions, including whether one of the best offenses in WVU history is being wasted. Bowl eligibility is still on the table, and 7 wins would still count as a solid season.
But the chance for something bigger took a major hit in Lubbock.
In Other News...
WVU Wasted A Historic Night In A Loss Fans Will Hate
West Virginias trip to Texas Tech turned into one of those maddening Big 12 shootouts that leaves everyone exhausted and none the happier for it. In a game packed with offense and little margin for error, the Mountaineers were part of a first half that produced more than 892 yards of total offense, and Mike Hawkins Jr. still managed to carve out a place in the school record book by setting the program mark for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season.
Even with that kind of individual milestone, the result is what will sting most. West Virginia fell 53-48 after defensive breakdowns and a handful of critical late plays swung the finish in Texas Techs favor, turning a historic night for Hawkins into a loss the Mountaineers will be replaying for a while. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs PFF Review Shows Who Carried The Offense In Texas Tech Loss
Pro Football Focus review of West Virginias shootout loss to Texas Tech offered a clear snapshot of where the offense held up and where it broke down. Quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. graded out well thanks to strong passing efficiency, giving the Mountaineers enough production to stay in the game, while the offensive line had a much tougher night trying to keep the pocket clean.
The defensive grades told a similar story of a few bright spots surrounded by too many issues. K.J. Henson and linebacker Isaiah Patterson drew notice for their work, but the secondary came under fire for shaky positioning and an inability to finish plays, leaving West Virginia with more questions than answers as it looks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Hawkins Jr. Is Giving West Virginia One Huge Reason To Worry
Mike Hawkins Jr. has already put his name alongside one of the most recognizable figures in West Virginia football, and he did it in a way that keeps changing the conversation around the Mountaineers. With 19 rushing touchdowns through nine games, he broke Pat Whites mark for the most rushing scores by a West Virginia player in a single season, a reminder of just how central he has become to the offense.
The bigger issue for West Virginia is what comes next. Hawkins has a chance to keep climbing the record book and potentially set a standard for a non-service academy quarterback that would draw national attention, but only if he remains in Morgantown. For a program that wants to build real momentum, his future with the Mountaineers may be every bit as important as what he has already done on the field. [Read more 🡒]