Texas Tech is no fluke

lubbock, texas -- So it wasn’t simply the emotion of playing No. 1 at home that brought out the best in Texas Tech last week. The Red Raiders just might be that good.

Proving the No. 2 ranking and win over Texas was no fluke, Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree picked up where they left off, scoring touchdown after touchdown and turning a showdown with No. 8 Oklahoma State into a 56-20 rout Saturday night in a Big 12 Conference game.

After losing a fumble on the opening drive, Harrell led the Red Raiders to touchdowns on their next seven drives, capping three of them with touchdown passes to Crabtree, the big, strong sophomore who might be the nation’s most dangerous receiver.

Now that Texas Tech (10-0, 6-0) has gotten by two straight top-10 foes, one more awaits: No. 6 Oklahoma on the road.

On Saturday, Harrell completed 40 of 50 passes for 456 yards and six touchdowns. He lost two fumbles but didn’t throw an interception and wasn’t sacked. He was rarely even pressured as Texas Tech won its 12th straight game, the longest streak in the nation and best in school history.

Crabtree caught eight passes for 89 yards and the three scores. Eric Morris led Texas Tech with 10 catches for 97 yards. Nine other Red Raiders caught passes on the way to piling up 629 yards -- still less than the 718 yards gained in a 49-45 loss to Oklahoma State (8-2, 4-2) last year, a game best remembered for the postgame “I’m a man! I’m 40!” rant by Cowboys Coach Mike Gundy that became a YouTube sensation.