Arkansas rout spoils McGuire’s Liberty Bowl dream ending for Texas Tech

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

Texas Tech head football coach Joey McGuire hoped to use a Liberty Bowl win over Arkansas Friday night in Memphis to jump start his program into the 2025 season.

Instead the Razorbacks used several explosive plays while jumping to a 21-3 lead in the first quarter, survived a second quarter Red Raiders challenge and then dominated in the second half en route to a 39-26 win.

The win was the third win in as many bowls for Arkansas (7-6) and head coach Sam Pittman and kept McGuire from winning his third straight and the Red Raiders (8-5) a fourth consecutive one.

It was certainly not the season ending envisioned by McGuire, who grew up a Razorback fan in Texarkana, Texas.

“It’s frustrating because I really wanted this group to be able to finish on a strong note,” McGuire said. “We have got so many good guys in there, some really strong seniors that care a lot about this university.

“…Ending a year is always tough, but ending it when you don’t play well and make too many mistakes makes it tougher. Hats off to Arkansas. I thought they played a great game.”

The Texas Tech offense was missing injured starting quarterback Behren Morton, leading wide receiver Josh Kelly and leading rusher Tahj Brooks, who announced right before the game he would be opting out along with Kelly.

Arkansas was also without several standouts, including leading receiver Andrew Armstrong and leading rusher Ja’Quinden Jackson, but did have quarterback Taylen Green in the fold.

Green was named the overall MVP after completing 11 of 21 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns and rushing 15 times for 81 yards and another score.

The Razorbacks also got big efforts from wide receiver and offensive MVP Dazmin James (3 catches, 137 yards – including a school record 94-yard TD reception) tailbacks Rodney Hill (8 carries, 81 yards) and Braylen Russell (20 carries, 50 yards, TD) and wideout Issac TeSlaa (3 receptions, 107 yards).

“I expected that,” McGuire said of Green. “He is a really good football player. He played well. They have kind of been like us, kind of been up and down, played really well or struggled at times. He played really well tonight.

“And the young running backs – 0 (Russell) and 20 (Reed) – both played really well.”

Hill raced 70 yards for the game’s first score, a 57-yard toss to TeSlaa set up Russell’s 1-yard rushing TD and then Green hit James, who outraced everyone for the 94-yard score on what was his first college catch.

“The first quarter we got behind, just too many big plays, gave up a big run and them we checked zone and didn’t get check it across so we gave up a big pass,” McGuire said. “And all of a sudden it is 21-3 in the first quarter.”

Matthew Shipley kicked field goals of 40, 34 and 30, Green connected with Tyrell Reed on a 47-yard touchdown on his first college catch and Arkansas defensive lineman Anton Juncaj sacked Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond for a safety to account for the Razorbacks’ second-half points.

After falling down 39-19, the Red Raiders got their lone second-half points via Hammond’s 15-yard TD pass to Cody Eakin with 3:06 remaining.

“We fought back (to 24-19 by halftime), but then the second half just too many mistakes,” McGuire said. “Again, gave up too many bigs plays on the defensive side of the ball and then turnovers. Threw a couple of interceptions.

“I think that was more pressing and us just trying to get something going.”

Both teams will now get a break before resuming off-season workouts in mid-January.

“I think there is a couple of things right now,” McGuire said. “You hurt for the seniors, but then you got a break. We will have our first team meeting on January 14th. So they guys have got a break and they need a break and to decompress.”

Texas Tech will have two new additions next season in offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich and defensive coordinator Shiel Wood.

“We have grew new coordinators coming in that I am really excited about and we ned to continue to build a roster,” McGuire said. “That’s a big part of it. We want to keep pushing forward.”

Photo by John D. James