Texas Tech routs Oregon State 45-14 after lightning delay

Texas Tech turns a storm delay into a statement win

The weather made everyone wait. The result wasn’t close. After a lightning delay at Jones AT&T Stadium, Texas Tech came out flying and flattened Oregon State 45-14, building a 28-0 halftime cushion that never wobbled. The 21st-ranked Red Raiders are 3-0 and through their non-conference slate with three convincing performances, this one the clearest yet.

Quarterback Behren Morton ran the show. He sprayed the ball all over the yard, finishing with 464 passing yards and four touchdowns before leaving the game in the second half. The team didn’t share details right away, but the damage was done by then. Morton attacked the seams, hit verticals in stride, and kept Oregon State guessing with tempo and quick decisions. The Beavers’ defense never found a rhythm.

Oregon State’s day unraveled at the line of scrimmage. The Beavers were smothered on the ground and finished with only eight rushing yards. Texas Tech’s front lived in the backfield, set the edge, and made early-down stops that forced predictable passing situations. Running back Anthony Hankerson had no air in the run game, limited to 12 yards on 11 carries. When a team’s longest gain on the ground barely moves the chains, the script turns one-dimensional fast.

That left Oregon State quarterback Maalik Murphy firing into tight windows against a defense that was teeing off. Murphy went 24-of-43 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He showed poise at times, hung in under pressure, and kept drives alive with intermediate throws. But the mistakes stung, and the Red Raiders turned those extra possessions into points. Sophomore wideout David Wells Jr. was the Beavers’ bright spot, pulling in six catches for 103 yards and flashing real burst after the catch.

The Red Raiders’ offensive line quietly set the tone. Oregon State got to the passer only twice. That protection gave Morton time to climb the pocket and find matchups he liked—isolations outside, crossers behind linebackers, and shot plays when the Beavers crept forward. When the coverage held, Texas Tech used quick hitters and screens as an extension of the run game, spreading the defense horizontally before striking downfield.

Texas Tech didn’t lean on a traditional, grind-it-out rushing stat line, but the ground game still mattered. Motion and RPO looks stressed the edges. Perimeter runs and pop passes kept Oregon State’s linebackers moving their feet. The effect was clear: the Beavers couldn’t sit in two-high shells all afternoon, and once they rolled a safety down, Morton made them pay over the top.

On defense, the Red Raiders mixed speeds and looks. They brought pressure without getting reckless, used stunts to muddy Oregon State’s run fits, and tackled cleanly in space. When the Beavers faced third-and-long, Texas Tech pinned its ears back and forced Murphy into late throws. Those snaps tilted field position, which kept the Red Raiders on the front foot and the crowd engaged after the weather interruption.

Atmosphere matters in Lubbock, and the home crowd shook off the delay as if it were a long TV timeout. The energy matched the start: quick score, quick stop, quick separation. Once the Red Raiders had control, they managed the game, mixed personnel, and avoided the big mistakes that let underdogs hang around.

For a team with Big 12 ambitions, this is exactly the kind of September tune-up you want—fast starts, clean pockets, and a defense that travels. Texas Tech won on standard downs, got explosive plays when it needed them, and choked off Oregon State’s bread-and-butter runs. Style points weren’t required, but they showed up anyway.

• Score: Texas Tech 45, Oregon State 14
• Behren Morton: 464 passing yards, 4 TDs (left in the second half)
• Oregon State rushing: 8 total yards
• Anthony Hankerson: 12 yards on 11 carries
• Maalik Murphy: 24-of-43, 278 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
• David Wells Jr.: 6 receptions, 103 yards
• Beavers’ sacks: 2 on the day

What it means as Big 12 play begins

Three games in, we have a clearer picture. Texas Tech’s identity sits on a steady pocket for Morton, a wide receiver group that can separate, and a front seven that erases the run and earns its takeaways. The offense is comfortable living in space, stretching defenses sideline to sideline, then attacking vertically when safeties bite. The defense wins early and makes quarterbacks play left-handed.

The only lingering question is health. Morton exited in the second half after piling up yards, and his status will be monitored as conference play opens. If he’s ready to go, Texas Tech has the balance and pass protection to trade blows with the league’s best. If they need the next man up, the surrounding cast—line, backs, and defense—looks sturdy enough to keep the train moving.

Either way, the Red Raiders walk into the Big 12 with momentum and a blueprint that travels: take away the run, throw on your terms, and let the scoreboard apply pressure. September did its job in Lubbock. Now comes the hard part—and this team looks eager for it.