Texas Tech needed a response. It delivered a 42–0 sledgehammer.

After a 30-minute lightning delay—and the first kickoff since Tech officially banned tortilla throws, J’Koby Williams detonated the night with a 99-yard opening kick return TD, then took a screen 26 yards to the house on Tech’s first offensive snap. A blocked punt on Oklahoma State’s opening series set up the quick double-tap and the rout was on.

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The Red Raiders (7–1, 4–1 Big 12) bounced back from last week’s stumble with their first Big 12 home shutout since 2005 (28–0 vs. Baylor), holding the Cowboys (1–7, 0–5) to 182 total yards and forcing the issue all night.

Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez ripped the ball from Sesi Vailahi and rumbled 69 yards for a TD, his 11th career fumble recovery (second among active FBS players), never touching the turf.

QB carousel, same result.

With Behren Morton still healing (hyperextended knee), Will Hammond drew a second straight start but exited in the second quarter with a non-contact knee injury. Mitch Griffis stepped in and kept the hammer down—throwing a TD and running for another out of halftime to make it 35–0. Morton suited up after the break, but never needed to play.

Postgame, Joey McGuire praised a locked-in crowd that traded tortillas for towels.

“I am so proud of our fans and Red Raider Nation. … Believing in this team and doing what we needed to do to help this team win.”

Two weeks after Tech was flagged for objects on kickoffs, the message landed—and so did Williams.

Oklahoma State’s interim coach, Doug Meacham, lauded his team’s fight amid a seventh straight loss.

“There’s a lot of reasons why they can just quit, and they’re not. … We gave them 21 points.”

READ MORE: Cowboys’ Secondary On Life Support: Diggs To IR … And Still Trade-Eligible

The bottom line is special teams fireworks, defensive violence, and QB depth turned a bounce-back into a beatdown. Tech’s playoff pulse? Still thumping.

Up Next, Texas Tech heads to Kansas State next Saturday.