[Postgame Thread] Texas Tech Defeats Abilene Christian 33-10

[u/CFB_Referee]

Box Score provided by ESPN

Team	1	2	3	4	T
Abilene Christian	0	3	0	7	10
Texas Tech	14	3	9	7	33

[u/DrVenusAg]

Offense is still regressing. Also what the hell where the announcers on the last 3 minutes of the game?

[u/RidgeRunner99 → u/DrVenusAg]

Zack Kittley returned with all those screen passes

[u/enataca → u/DrVenusAg]

Chimy’s margs

[u/admiraltarkin → u/enataca]

RIP Kenny Hill

[u/BirdieIsTheName → u/admiraltarkin]

Awesome! Kenny Trill!

[u/R_Raider86]

Not the prettiest win. But no one got seriously hurt like Morton did against UAPB. Have to turn the page and get ready for Oregon State

[u/RyanTB → u/R_Raider86]

Looked like something happened with Hudson. He came up limping on his first catch, played a couple more drives, and then didn’t play in the second half from what I saw. Hopefully nothing serious.

[u/StoicFable → u/R_Raider86]

I am not expecting a win on our end. But looking forward to the game more than I was before today.

[u/brandidaddison → u/[deleted]]

Morton went to the NFL.

[u/Bucranium → u/[deleted]]

This is AI.

[u/Basileus2 → u/[deleted]]

Morton isn’t on the team………..

[u/Outside_Net6026]

Strange game. Tech couldn’t score touchdowns and settled for 12 points on field goals. Defense looked mehhhh too

Same problem as last year with the offense

[u/VanillaPillowTalk → u/Outside_Net6026]

At some point Mack Leftwich has gotta just figure it out in the redzone. I thought maybe Morton just didn't have enough touch on his passes to get it done when the field shrinks spaces so it's disheartening that it's the same story now with Hammond.

[u/cMcDozer4 → u/Outside_Net6026]

Basically our team from last year against any sort of competition in the big 12

[u/enataca → u/Outside_Net6026]

I mean the defense did only give up 3 points. But the red zone O was terrible.

[u/R_Raider86 → u/enataca]

People are going see the score and overreact. The 98- yard ACU kickoff return was a big play

[u/Iglooman45 → u/R_Raider86]

Additionally, ACU's singular scoring drive was aided by 30 penalty yards. They only gained 21 on that drive, would not have been in field goal range.

[u/misader]

We were projected to win by 42. That did not happen 😔

[u/Just_One_Victory]

Hammond has a lot of growing to do, but he spent most of the off season just recovering from his knee injury. He’ll get better. That’s why they were so desperate to have Sorsby play. The play calling was suspiciously Wes Kittley-like, though.

[u/JohnHammerfall → u/Just_One_Victory]

Leftwhich is just Kittley in different clothes

[u/Iglooman45]

I am whelmed. Offense seems to have the same issues as last year. Defense still looks good but not as dominant.

[u/The_Sandwich_Lover9 → u/Iglooman45]

That is true but defense is down two key starters. Still looks real good.

[u/LubbockCottonKings]

That was one of the games I have seen.

[u/R_Raider86 → u/LubbockCottonKings]

At least we didn’t barely win this one

[u/TTUgirl]

Can we hire some red zone consultants?

[u/hard2think2347]

If the AP voters watched the games we’d easily fall out the top 20 (I know they don’t) just absolutely embarrassing playcalling that makes me question how this OC gets to call plays for the amount of money that’s spent on his offense

[u/Tonkathedog → u/hard2think2347]

After seeing Morton make the patriots roster, and Douglas/virgil looking very good in NFL training camps I started to have big doubts about Leftwich. Considerable NFL talent including a top TE in the country and yet he had an awful red zone offense and couldn’t score in the playoff game. Not sold on him as an OC

[u/Just_One_Victory → u/Tonkathedog]

I’m not understanding why our program has this weird fascination with G5 OCs

[u/ExpressFan7426]

One of the weirdest games of football I’ve seen. Doesn’t make me that confident for the season but I’m sure we’ll shape up!

[u/Tonkathedog]

Does not look great, and having Brendan Jordan suspended along with Guyton/white hurt is unfortunate. I feel worse about Leftwich after this game, not sold on him as a decent OC

[u/ChrisFromSeattle]

Lotta doomers in here, but overall only 1 thing was atrocious and that's redzone efficiency. Otherwise it was a fine showing.

[u/Tonkathedog → u/ChrisFromSeattle]

That was our biggest issue last year. If we can’t convert in the redzone against Abilene Christian that’s a big problem for our play calling and our overall talent

[u/Known-Emergency5900 → u/ChrisFromSeattle]

Struggling on offense against an FCS team is a decent reason to start dooming

[u/ChrisFromSeattle → u/Known-Emergency5900]

I think Indiana only scored 25 against Old Dominion last year. 1 less than stellar win is not a reason to start dooming

[u/EnTyme53 → u/ChrisFromSeattle]

Reading the gamethread and the PGT, you'd never know we just won by three possession (and would've been four if the kicking team didn't decide to take a play off) despite being conservative on offense.

[u/igot200phones → u/EnTyme53]

The expectations of this team were high. Of course everyone is underwhelmed. Tech was supposed to roll the big 12, but that looks very u nlikely after that performance.

Not saying they can’t figure it out, just that they obviously weren’t that dominant of a team this game.

[u/EnTyme53 → u/igot200phones]

We dominated the game from whistle to whistle despite taking our foot off the gas after the first quarter. This was a tune-up game meant to ease Hammond into the starter role, and he put up very good numbers despite what some of our fans think. Speaking of which, I've noticed a lot of the doomerism is coming from Tech flairs on usernames I don't recognize. Is this what it's like to have T-shirt fans?

[u/igot200phones → u/EnTyme53]

I graduated from tech 2019, so if you’re implying I’m a bandwagon fan, try again.

We don’t have bandwagon fans.

[u/tackleboxjohnson → u/EnTyme53]

The expectation was 50 points give or take

[u/EnTyme53 → u/tackleboxjohnson]

Flair up or fuck off: preferably both in either order

[u/tackleboxjohnson → u/EnTyme53]

I’ll tell you i’m a tech fan but i’m not partial to the tribalism

[u/Mdwilson8413 → u/ChrisFromSeattle]

It was giving 2024 offense. Couldn’t find the red zone at all. FGs for TDs. Not going anywhere with that offensive output.

[u/Dirty-Ears-Bill → u/ChrisFromSeattle]

Defense is still elite and will keep us in any game we play. The only issue is the redzone. I have hopes the healthier Hammond gets they use his legs more and that would help out immensely in the redzone

[u/BosqueBravo → u/ChrisFromSeattle]

Right? It’s also not like ACU is a gutter program, they are ranked (in the FCS). I’m satisfied with this opener.

[u/ghoststoree]

What the fuck was that offense?

[u/JohnPaulDavyJones → u/ghoststoree]

Maybe super conservative by design?

[u/ghoststoree → u/JohnPaulDavyJones]

I get it, but all summer we hear ‘23-0’ and red zone issues and I’d like to think they can show that was addressed.

[u/Just_One_Victory → u/ghoststoree]

Well, there was the small matter of signing a different QB since they weren’t sure if Hammond would be ready to start the season but then that other QB ending up not being able to play. I forget why, though.

[u/ghoststoree → u/Just_One_Victory]

Iowa State replaced their entire staff and roster and scored more points against their FCS opponent. Texas Tech scored the least amount of points as a Top 12 team last night compared to teams 1-11.

It’s good enough to win against ACU, but not the Big 12.

[u/Just_One_Victory → u/ghoststoree]

Not all FCS teams are the same. ACU is a way, way better team and program than SE Misssouri (who was 4-8 last year), and they have tons of connections to and knowledge of our program.

[u/tturedditor → u/JohnPaulDavyJones]

When you play a team like ACU and post game have to rationalize as us being "conservative" , not wanting to give opposing teams any film, or "maybe this team we are playing is really elite despite being ACU" these attempted rationalizations do not tend to hold up as the season progresses.

We should be putting 50 in a team like this and doing so by mid 3rd quarter at the latest, and giving backups some reps.

We did not look like a playoff team today. Not even close. Early on our running game was superb and we seemed to abandon that completely to work on our passing game. Maybe their defense keyed on that and we just stuck with it. Whatever the case we did not look like a B12 Championship caliber team today.

[u/Champion10101]

Defense still good, offense still obnoxious 

[u/wrechem]

Ah yes the tech I know and love

[u/The_Sandwich_Lover9]

It’s tough. Defense was about what I expected. Down two starters and our five star edge. Only three points.

Made our kicks at least.

Offense was a fucking mess have a lot to clean up. Really everyone gotta be better.

Tough week 1. Very disappointing. But move on week 2.

[u/806to602]

We were dogshit, plain and simple. A lot to clean up before going to Corvallis next week.

[u/3mpir3]

At least we aren't Michigan

[u/R_Raider86 → u/3mpir3]

And they somehow won

[u/EnTyme53 → u/R_Raider86]

Allegedly

[u/OrderTime]

Would like to have won by tons, but I feel like we were conservative in the end zone on purpose. Maybe im coping hard, we shall see.

[u/Tonkathedog → u/OrderTime]

I don’t care if you are conservative it’s an FCS school. You should average 10 yards a carry especially with how much they talked up the OL and the RB room

[u/Appropriate_Crew_964 → u/OrderTime]

You are

[u/trhart]

We're about where I expected after the summer we've had. Stoked to see how the rest of the season plays out

[u/Lumpy_Chapter171]

Nearly 500 yards felt like 250. Techs oc need to make changes or be changed

[u/R_Raider86]

Didn’t expect for entering today that UConn would have an easier FCS win than Tech would today

[u/EveryManAViKing]

Hopefully this game helps people realize that Leftwich is the one who needs to shoulder blame for the red zone struggles. I’m not dooming but that is an alarming trend to have continue.

[u/DanPlainviewIV]

Play calling in general looked out of rhythm. Like just randomly picking something off the call sheet. I was not impressed with the OL.

Defense looked good, but not great.

[u/BirdieIsTheName]

Beavers game will be better measuring stick, if comparing to where we were last season.

Morton had 24 college starts PRIOR to the 2025 run. Hammond now has 2 total career starts.

Either way, Chubs Jones is going to take us the furthest, when his opportunity happens.

[u/Klutzy-Concentrate83]

We deserve to drop in the polls. Dear god.

[u/cluckinho → u/Klutzy-Concentrate83]

Eh it is fine. It is Week 1.

[u/HtownSamson]

Hammond better be better next week or the calls for the backup are going to get loud.

[u/Tonkathedog → u/HtownSamson]

Outside of 1 throw Hammond didn’t even look that bad imo. It was more so our offensive gameplan, we just didn’t test anything downfield

[u/commonsensecoder → u/Tonkathedog]

we just didn’t test anything downfield

Exact same last year when Hammond was in the game. At some point, they're going to have to take the training wheels off.

[u/Tonkathedog → u/commonsensecoder]

100% agree. I have major issues with the playcalling today. But it is less of a Hammond issue for me. Or I guess I don’t even know if it is a Hammond issue because the playcalling wouldn’t let anyone have an explosive offense

[u/LubbockCottonKings → u/HtownSamson]

He was damn near perfect through the first quarter, I dont agree with this take. Just get better at converting in the red zone, thats really my only takeaway here.

[u/EnTyme53 → u/LubbockCottonKings]

The playcalling got super conservative after the first quarter. Hopefully we were just holding back since the stakes were low.

[u/DavisFilmsCFB → u/LubbockCottonKings]

I didn't get to watch the game beyond the 1st Q, so box score was def confusing as I checked it throughout the night. So I was also confused considering how well things worked to start the game lol

[u/NKCougar]

That return TD at the end was sexy

[u/RidgeRunner99]

Terrible performance. I hope this team gets belt to ass in practice next week

[u/ChrisFromSeattle → u/RidgeRunner99]

Honestly just poor red zone execution. Everything else was fine

[u/codnavar → u/RidgeRunner99]

Leftwich should be the one getting chewed out. Had a shitty performance in the playoff game and apparently didn’t learn anything from it

[u/enataca → u/RidgeRunner99]

KP is going to have the special teams tackling for 6 straight days.

[u/hangman_Pop_1127]

“Open the playbook”
We didn’t need to
They kept restrictions on Will. They will open it up more next week. Win is a win.

[u/tokyogetaway]

Almost every "powerhouse" put up a 50+ ball on their opponent today. Watching this game today left me more worried than excited for the season...

[u/Mdwilson8413 → u/tokyogetaway]

This- both in conference and out of conference top 25 programs blew the doors off their opponents and we just seemed stuck in sand.

[u/tortillaface08]

I saw lots of doomposting in the gdt that we would only win 8 games. The last time we won 8 games, we beat acu 52-51.

The red-zone woes are still the most blatant issue. I blame the playcalling. It usually consisted of throwing for the endzone, some weird stretch run that lost yardage, and then a 3rd down throw short of the sticks. Definitely frustrating.

Defense was solid. Got held on damn near every play and never got a flag. Mathis was really good, and he is 2nd or 3rd string with white and guyton out. Jordan being out gave the young safeties a chance to play. Hopefully this gives the staff enough to solidify the 2nd safety spot.

Hammond played ok. I think a lot of people act like he should be 5th year harrell. Hes had 4 starts in his career. Listen to him in the post-game presser. It is clear he is a smart kid. He will continue to get better. Harrell at will's age was giving us the double bird for booing him.

It may not have looked like we all wanted it to, but i didnt see any major injuries, and we didnt have to go to overtime (or get dominated by tulsa). Coach em up this week and get better.

[u/ZSKeller1140]

Didn’t like how Leftwich called the Oregon game, didn’t like the way he called the game today. We can blame QB’s all day long for both happenstances, but at the end of the day, the OC is the one dialing up their plays and there ain’t enough down field to say the least

[u/AmbitiousEmphasis64]

Abilene Christian, the school I only know exists because it was the first option for "College" when creating a player in Madden for like twenty years

[u/hornedfrog86]

Closer than expected

[u/Thorteris]

Wouldn’t be shocked if we drop 2 games this years we don’t have any juice on offense and the defense has regressed A LOT

[u/Outside_Net6026 → u/Thorteris]

This is an overreaction.

Abilene Christian is a weird opponent for Tech. Their HC (Patterson) was Tech’s defensive coordinator for 3 years just a few seasons ago. Not to mention Graham Harrell is also their offensive coordinator

[u/Just_One_Victory → u/Outside_Net6026]

Yeah, I don’t want to make excuses, but it seems like everyone is forgetting we had to go to overtime to beat them two years ago.

[u/Iglooman45 → u/Just_One_Victory]

ACU historically always gets up for this game. Roster and coaching staff are typically filled with former TTU guys, or guys that feel jilted by TTU.

Still doesn't make any of the concerns better, championship caliber teams should dominate lesser opponents, and I didn't see that yesterday.

[u/Just_One_Victory → u/Iglooman45]

Again, we started a QB that everyone thought for most of the offseason wouldn’t be ready until week 3 or do. It’s not ideal, and because of that, our roster is not championship caliber right now.

[u/Redditor_exe]

Defense looks like it’ll be legit this year, definitely playoff worthy I think. Would’ve been nice if we could’ve kept that last TD off the board. Offense still has a ways to go to be at the same level. Struggled massively last week, put together a few drives tonight but couldn’t finish. I legitimately think if we have one of our QBs from the last three years, we could’ve won this game.

[u/R_Raider86 → u/Redditor_exe]

I would love to see y’all in the playoffs

[u/N_Lima]

Texas Tech's OC might be a fucking terrorist. The score does not tell the whole story.

[u/Just_One_Victory → u/N_Lima]

It tells the story pretty well.

[u/Garland_of_Oak51591]

Waited a few hours to post. I think we will be fine. Timing was off, execution will get better on offense. I think Will Hammond will be just fine. He has the stuff. We've seen it. Still young. Just needs to put it together. Defense looks good. On to Oregon state.

[u/H2Regent]

Very odd game to watch. Not sure what to make of Tech. 

[u/Mdwilson8413 → u/H2Regent]

It was a win but it looked like we were stuck in sand offensively and once we hit the redzone just couldn’t figure out how to find the end zone especially in the second half. It was fine but left a lot to be desired especially when the other top tier programs both in our conference and in the country blew the doors off their opponents.

[u/H2Regent → u/Mdwilson8413]

It almost feels like Leftwich has the yips or something 

[u/69Centhalfandhalf]

Keeping the bag on for now.

[u/myronpolar]

Conservative play but a good w

[u/fireskull5660]

ACU good or tech bad or both

[u/hopeless_dick_dancer]

Is Micah Hudson contributing in any significant way?

[u/enataca → u/hopeless_dick_dancer]

Looks like he got hurt. Limped off early and only played a bit after. He was decent before that. Def not WR1 by any means though

[u/R_Raider86 → u/enataca]

If he gets healthy, he can work his way into that role

[u/BasicWait8 → u/hopeless_dick_dancer]

No. It’s the same story every year with him

[u/DHiL]

And I thought Houston shat all over themselves at home en route to 33 total sloppy points.

[u/Appropriate_Crew_964 → u/DHiL]

You won by less points than tech did. You definitely shit the bed, along with tech

[u/DHiL → u/Appropriate_Crew_964]

Cool story

Also, you meant fewer. Go back to college.

[u/Appropriate_Crew_964 → u/DHiL]

UH fan doesn’t like a jab, so they go on a typical academic small talk route thinking someone from an actual relevant university belittles theirs. Ah. Love the UH fans and their little brother syndrome to every other Texas program reaction.

Less is most definitely acceptable here, sir. My P2 private school degree definitely knows this. But please continue with your “Harvard on the Buffalo Bayou” commuter school degree insults while completely ignoring the fact your tries at demeaning Texas Tech’s win due to point differential falls flat compared to your school’s even worse showing against a 2-10 team in a sparsely attended TDECU Stadium.

Have a great night, Coug.

[u/QuestionableCheese → u/DHiL]

Ohhhhh! From the top rope with a grammar correction. Take that, guy!

[u/DHiL → u/QuestionableCheese]

Using an incorrect word is technically usage rather than grammar. Go back to college.

[u/SaxMachine25 → u/DHiL]

Peak UH education: Reddit proofreader.

[u/igot200phones]

This team should not be the favorites to win the big 12. Extremely disappointing performance. Hammond ain’t it and looks scared to run the ball.

[u/Appropriate_Crew_964 → u/igot200phones]

You do realize the dude is just back from an ACL tear and surgery right?

[u/igot200phones → u/Appropriate_Crew_964]

I understand that. I’m saying he’s clearly not over his injury and it’s affecting ting his play.

[u/Key_Spinach]

See you in two weeks Tech.

[u/enataca → u/Key_Spinach]

We can’t afford to look that far ahead.

[u/rdallas77]

Just preparing to drop 40 on Cincinnati imo