The Texas Tech Red Raiders are on a mission, and Saturday night in Houston was just their latest statement. With quarterback Behren Morton throwing for 345 yards and a touchdown, and J’Koby Williams punching in two scores on the ground, the Red Raiders steamrolled the previously unbeaten Houston Cougars, 35-11, to improve to 5-0 on the season.

It marks the first time since 2013 that Texas Tech has opened a season with five straight wins — and only the eighth time in school history. But don’t tell this team they’ve peaked yet.

“There’s a next level that no one has seen,” said Morton, who led an offense that racked up 552 total yards.

While the offense was humming, it was Jacob Rodriguez and the defense who set the tone early. Rodriguez picked off Houston’s Conner Weigman in the second quarter, leading to a short-field touchdown that extended Tech’s lead to 22-3.

Rodriguez had a monster night with:

• 1 INT

• 2 TFLs

• 2 pass breakups

“Everybody up front made it easy,” he said. “Creating all the lanes I was able to run through to make plays.”

Houston (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) lost momentum after starting quarterback Conner Weigman exited with an injury late in the second quarter. Backup Zeon Chriss-Gremillion flashed briefly, hitting Amare Thomas on a 64-yard touchdown and converting a 2-pointer, but consistency was nowhere to be found.

Chriss-Gremillion led Houston with 93 passing yards, 59 rushing yards, a touchdown and an interception.

“We’ve got to play a lot better than that offensively,” coach Willie Fritz said. “We were just not able to sustain drives.”

Texas Tech showed off a balanced offensive attack:

• Caleb Johnson: 7 catches, 114 yards

• Coy Eakin: 10 receptions, 81 yards

• Williams: 107 rushing yards, 2 TDs

• Cameron Dickey: 69-yard TD reception, 98 rushing yards

The Red Raiders held a 15-3 lead after a highlight-reel 69-yard score from Morton to Dickey in the first quarter. They missed two field goals but still scored on seven drives.

Even though the scoreboard showed a 24-point win, head coach Joey McGuire believes his team battled through real adversity:

“At the end of the day, there were teams that went on the road that were expected to win and didn’t. Our team handled the adversity.”

McGuire also applauded the Red Raider faithful:

“Our players were just blown away by the support. It was incredible. A great environment for us.”

Texas Tech returns home to face Kansas next Saturday night, while Houston will try to bounce back on the road at Oklahoma State. With dominant wins in every game this season and a defense that swarms, Texas Tech has now outscored opponents 243-56 through five games. They’re not just winning — they’re dismantling teams.

A rise in the Top 10 was inevitable after losses by Texas and Penn State, and the Red Raiders have moved into the No. 9 spot and are suddenly looking like serious Big 12 title contenders.