LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -No. 7 Texas Tech goes into its game Saturday against Baylor caring about more than just beating the Bears.
In addition to needing a win to remain in the hunt for their first Big 12 South title, the Red Raiders also need help from 11th-ranked Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys need to topple No. 3 Oklahoma for Texas Tech to play for the Big 12 title against 12th-ranked Missouri on Dec. 6.
OU, Texas and the Red Raiders are currently tied for first in the South with one loss each.
A Sooner win in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday night would send either OU or Texas to the Big 12 title game.
The Red Raiders (10-1, 6-1) are seventh in the BCS, behind both the Sooners and Longhorns, leaving them no shot to win the three-way tiebreaker for the division crown.
“We’re obviously rooting for Oklahoma State,” Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said.
ek’s 65-21 rout by the Sooners.
“We have been through some tough times before with this team, and this is just another one,” Tech defensive lineman Jake Ratliff said. “We’ve got to rely on everybody on the team…just stick together.”
Graham Harrell and Texas Tech, for the first time this season, struggled to move the ball against OU. Punts ended the Red Raiders first three possessions, fourth-down attempts the next two failed, and the Red Raiders got their first TD midway through the second quarter.
By that time, Oklahoma already had four touchdowns and the Sooners got into the end zone twice more by halftime. Down by 35 starting the second half, Texas Tech couldn’t catch Oklahoma.
M that snapped a four-game losing streak for the Bears.
M. The Bears, who are winless in four tries on the road this season, were idle last week.
Bears players are eager to show how the program’s grown under first-year coach Art Briles, who was an assistant in charge of running backs under Leach from 2000-2002.
“It’s our last opportunity to show the nation what Baylor football really is about and let them know that all the work we did in the offseason wasn’t in vain,” defensive tackle Vincent Rhodes said. “We really worked towards something.”
lots of supporters in Austin. If Baylor pulls the upset, Texas would go to the Big 12 title game. But Bears have not beaten Tech since Leach arrived in Lubbock in 2000.
Leach, who with a win Saturday can bring Texas Tech only its third 11-win season in 84 years, sees a changed Baylor team.
“This biggest difference is the big play potential of their quarterback,” Leach said of freshman Robert Griffin, who’s rushed for 11 TDs and thrown for 14 more. “They are similar but they are inspired.”
M, Griffin threw for 241 yards with touchdown passes of 31 and 55 yards. He pitched out to Jacoby Jones late on runs that led to two scores.
Harrell had his worst showing of the season against the Sooners, but Leach expects a rebound.
“They were trying to make too much happen,” he said. “(Harrell) is a great team leader, and I think the players will draw from him this week.”
Briles praised Michael Crabtree, Harrell’s go-to receiver who caught the game-winner against then-No. 1 Texas with 1 second remaining, as one of the Big 12’s best players.
“He attacks the football, plays with a lot of passion and he plays with a lot of energy,” Briles said. “He is an outstanding blocker as well as a great receiver.”
would be organized. He also didn’t commit on whether he’d be watching
“I watch less football than people think I do,” he said. “I watch games and practice film during the day so I don’t really watch games from start to finish. My wife watches enough for all of us.”
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