The Red Raiders proved they’re built for chaos — and for championships. Despite losing star quarterback Behren Morton to a leg injury in the second quarter, No. 9 Texas Tech steamrolled Kansas 42-17 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, behind a record-setting ground game and a breakout performance from Cameron Dickey.
Dickey was unstoppable, rushing for 263 yards and two long touchdowns — a 71-yard sprint on the first play of the game and a 55-yarder in the fourth that sealed it.
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“We just wanted to make a statement,” Dickey said postgame. “Losing Behren hurt, but we weren’t about to let up.”
Texas Tech (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) piled up 372 rushing yards and never looked back, even as the Jayhawks clawed back from a 21-0 hole to make it 21-17 by halftime. Redshirt freshman Will Hammond, who replaced Morton, started slow with an interception but settled in after the break — scoring two rushing touchdowns, including a 20-yard bolt to open the second half.
It was the third time this season Hammond has been called in for an injured Morton, who’s battled a knee issue and a head injury earlier in the year. This time, he delivered.
Kansas (4-3, 2-2) moved the ball early behind quarterback Jalon Daniels’ 228 passing yards and two touchdowns, but the Texas Tech defense turned ferocious after halftime. The Red Raiders sacked Daniels eight times — with David Bailey accounting for three — and forced five second-half punts as the Jayhawks’ momentum disappeared.
With the win, Texas Tech stays undefeated and likely climbs higher in the AP Top 10 for the first time since 2013 after Oregon’s loss to Indiana earlier in the day.
Next up: a road showdown at No. 21 Arizona State — and another chance for the Red Raiders to prove they’re not just hot, they’re for real.
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