2012 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team

The 2012 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season as members of the Big 12 Conference. Tommy Tuberville lead the Red Raiders in his third season as the program's fourteenth head coach. The Red Raiders played home games on the university's campus in Lubbock, Texas at Jones AT&T Stadium. They finished the season 8–5, 4–5 in Big 12 play to finish in a four way tie for fifth place. They were invited to the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas where they defeated Minnesota.

2012 Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas champion
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, W 34–31 vs. Minnesota
Conference	Big 12 Conference
2012 record	8–5 (4–5 Big 12)
Head coach	Tommy Tuberville (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Neal Brown (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Art Kaufman (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Jones AT&T Stadium (Capacity: 60,454)

2012 Big 12 Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 12 Kansas State $+		8	–	1					11	–	2
No. 15 Oklahoma +		8	–	1					10	–	3
No. 19 Texas		5	–	4					9	–	4
Oklahoma State		5	–	4					8	–	5
Baylor		4	–	5					8	–	5
TCU		4	–	5					7	–	6
Texas Tech		4	–	5					8	–	5
West Virginia		4	–	5					7	–	6
Iowa State		3	–	6					6	–	7
Kansas		0	–	9					1	–	11
$ – BCS representative as conference champion + – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

At the end of the regular season, Head coach Tommy Tuberville resigned to take the same position at Cincinnati. Offensive line coach Chris Thomsen was the Red Raiders interim head coach in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas. Former Red Raider quarterback and Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was hired as the new head coach beginning in 2013.

Preseason

Award watch lists

• Seth Doege: Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Walter Camp Award, Manning Award[1][2]
• LaAdrian Waddle: Outland Trophy
• Eric Ward: Biletnikoff Award

Coaching changes

• Defensive Coordinator: Art Kaufman replaces Chad Glasgow
• Defensive Line: Fred Tate replaces Sam McElroy
• Offensive Line: Chris Thomsen replaces Matt Moore
• Secondary: John Lovett replaces Otis Mounds

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	6:00 pm	Northwestern State*		Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX	FSSW+	W 44–6	50,236[3]
September 8	6:00 pm	at Texas State*		Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	ESPN3	W 58–10	33,006[4]
September 15	6:00 pm	New Mexico*		Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX	FCS Pacific	W 49–14	58,955[5]
September 29	6:00 pm	at Iowa State		Jack Trice Stadium Ames, IA	FCS Central	W 24–13	54,149[6]
October 6	2:30 pm	No. 17 Oklahoma		Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX	ABC	L 20–41	60,800[7]
October 13	2:30 pm	No. 5 West Virginia		Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX	ABC	W 49–14	57,328[8]
October 20	2:30 pm	at TCU	No. 18	Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX (rivalry)	ABC	W 56–53 ^3OT	47,894[9]
October 27	2:30 pm	at No. 4 Kansas State	No. 15	Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium Manhattan, KS	FOX	L 24–55	50,766[10]
November 3	2:30 pm	Texas	No. 20	Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX (rivalry)	ABC	L 22–31	60,879[11]^^A
November 10	11:00 am	Kansas	No. 25	Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX	FSN	W 41–34 ^2OT	55,052[12]
November 17	2:30 pm	at Oklahoma State	No. 23	Boone Pickens Stadium Stillwater, OK (rivalry)	FSN	L 21–59	55,341[13]
November 24	1:30 pm	vs. Baylor		Cowboys Stadium Arlington, TX (rivalry)	FOX	L 45–52 ^OT	44,168[14]
December 28	8:00 pm	vs. Minnesota*		Reliant Stadium Houston, TX (Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas)	ESPN	W 34–31	50,386
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Denotes the largest crowd to watch a football game at Jones AT&T Stadium (beating a previous record set earlier in the season at the Oklahoma game.).[15]

Game summaries

Northwestern State

Northwestern State Demons at Texas Tech Red Raiders

1 2 3 4 Total Demons 0 3 0 3 6 • Red Raiders 7 17 3 17 44 Date: September 1 Location: Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX Game start: 6:07 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3:21 Game attendance: 50,236 Game weather: 94 °F (34 °C), Partly Cloudy, winds S at 14 mph Referee: Alan Eck TV announcers (FSSW+/FCS Pacific): Bill Land, Dave Lapham, and Emily Jones Sources:

The Red Raiders set a school record for total yards allowed in a game, with only 86 being given up to the Demons.[16] Eric Stephens scored a pair of first-half touchdowns and Kenny Williams scored on pass from Seth Doege as the Raiders opened a 24–3 halftime lead. Doege left the game before the end of the third quarter, and his replacement, Michael Brewer, threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to Marcus Kennard as Texas Tech completed the season-opening rout.[3]

Texas Tech running back Eric Stephens, coming back from a season-ending knee injury in the 2011 season, scores a touchdown for Texas Tech against Northwestern State.

Texas State

Texas Tech Red Raiders at Texas State Bobcats

1 2 3 4 Total • Red Raiders 21 17 17 3 58 Bobcats 0 10 0 0 10 Date: September 8 Location: Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX Game start: 6:04 PM CST Elapsed time: 3:11 Game attendance: 33,006 Game weather: 89 °F (32 °C), Sunny and clear, winds NNE at 19 mph Referee: Scott Novak TV announcers (ESPN3): Trey Bender and Jay Taylor Sources:

Texas State came into the game after a dominating 30–13 upset over Houston, and with a capacity crowd in a newly renovated stadium in their first year in the NCAA FBS division. But Texas Tech jumped out to a quick 14–0 lead less than 5 minutes into the game, and opened a 28–0 lead halfway through the second quarter. Seth Doege threw for 319 yards and 5 touchdown passes before being pulled from action in the third quarter, and Texas Tech's defense held Texas State to just 270 total yards of offense. Cody Davis had an 88-yard interception return for a touchdown to lead Texas Tech's defense.[4]

New Mexico

New Mexico Lobos at Texas Tech Red Raiders

1 2 3 4 Total Lobos 0 14 0 0 14 • Red Raiders 14 28 7 0 49 Date: September 15 Location: Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX Game start: 6:05 PM CST Elapsed time: 3:23 Game attendance: 58,955 Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C), Cloudy, Winds Calm Referee: Eddy Shelton TV announcers (FCS Pacific): Mike Gleason, Ben Leber, and Lesley McCaslin Sources:

The Texas Tech Red Raiders faced the New Mexico Lobos, under new head coach Bob Davie, on Texas Tech's Family Day at Jones AT&T Stadium. Seth Doege threw for 340 yards and 6 touchdowns in a dominating performance for the Texas Tech offense in the first three quarters. Doege tossed three touchdown passes to Eric Ward in the first half, and added touchdown passes to Jace Amaro and Darrin Moore before halftime. New Mexico got a second-quarter touchdown run and a long kickoff return for a touchdown to pull within 28–14 with 2:06 remaining in the second quarter, but Texas Tech pulled ahead to a 42–14 lead with two touchdowns in the final minute before halftime. Doege threw another touchdown pass to tight end Jace Amaro on Texas Tech's first possession in the second half before going to the sidelines with 11 minutes left in the third quarter. Tech's defense held UNM to only 170 total yards and just 43 yards passing.[5]

Texas Tech's Eric Ward catches a touchdown pass in the 2nd quarter of the 2012 New Mexico vs. Texas Tech football game at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, TX.

Iowa State

Texas Tech Red Raiders at Iowa State Cyclones

1 2 3 4 Total • Red Raiders 0 7 7 10 24 Cyclones 7 0 6 0 13 Date: September 29 Location: Jack Trice Stadium Ames, IA Game start: 6:06 PM CST Elapsed time: 3:16 Game attendance: 54,149 Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C), Clear Skies, winds NW at 0–5 mph Referee: Mike Defee TV announcers (FCS Central): Mike Gleason, Dave Lapham and Lesley McCaslin Sources:

Coming into the game, Texas Tech was ranked first in total defense, and second in total offense.[17] The Red Raiders held the Cyclones to 189 yards of total offense.[6] Senior cornerback Cornelius Douglas earned recognition as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after recording two interceptions.[18] Douglas is the first Red Raider defensive player to earn the honor since Daniel Charbonnet in 2008. Douglas was also named as the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back Of The Week.[19]

Oklahoma

#14 Oklahoma Sooners at #24 Texas Tech Red Raiders

1 2 3 4 Total • Sooners 7 17 17 0 41 Red Raiders 7 6 0 7 20 Date: October 6 Location: Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX Game attendance: 60,800 TV announcers (ABC/Dial Global): Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, and Quint Kessenich (ABC)/ Brad Sham and Rod Woodson (Dial Global) Sources:

Texas Tech came into the game with the nation's No. 1-ranked defense, but it was Oklahoma's defense that shut down Texas Tech's offense in the Raiders' first loss of the season. The game was played in cold, windy weather before a Jones AT&T Stadium record crowd of 60,800. Texas Tech held a 10–7 lead early in the second quarter on a 35-yard field goal by Ryan Bustin and a 7-yard touchdown run by Kenny Williams, but Oklahoma answered with a Blake Bell touchdown run to take a 14–10 lead. The Sooners took a 24–13 halftime lead and outscored Texas Tech 17–0 in the third quarter, and the OU defense intercepted Seth Doege three times.[7]

West Virginia

	1	2	3	4	Total
West Virginia	7	0	0	7	14
Texas Tech	14	21	7	7	49

Starting quarterback Seth Doege threw for a career-high 504 yards, and tied his career high with 6 touchdown passes.[20] The team was also named the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week. Tech's defense gave up 275 yards to Heisman Trophy front-runner Geno Smith, but only one touchdown pass. Three of Doege's touchdown passes went to Darrin Moore, and Jace Amaro had 5 catches for 156 yards and one touchdown. Sadale Foster's 53-yard touchdown run shortly before halftime gave the Raiders a 35–7 halftime lead as Texas Tech won its Homecoming game.[21] Doege earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors, as well as being named the Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week. Safety Cody Davis was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. CBS Sports named Tuberville the Big XII "Coach of the Week" after the victory.[22]

Texas Tech fans rush the field after the Red Raiders blow out the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, TX.

TCU

	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	3OT	Total
Texas Tech	7	14	0	15	7	7	6	56
TCU	10	10	3	13	7	7	3	53

Quarterback Seth Doege threw for a new career high 7 touchdowns in the triple overtime victory and was named as a semi-finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, won the Capital One Cup Impact Performance of the Week, and was named the AT&T All America Player of the Week.[23] The game was the first in the history of either school to have three overtime periods, and the combined score was the highest in Texas Tech history since 1950.[24][25]

Kansas State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Texas Tech	7	3	7	7	24
Kansas State	3	10	21	21	55

Texas

	1	2	3	4	Total
Texas	14	10	0	7	31
Texas Tech	7	6	9	0	22

Kansas

	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
Kansas	7	10	0	10	7	0	34
Texas Tech	7	14	3	3	7	7	41

Quarterback Seth Doege completes a first-quarter pass during Texas Tech's victory over Kansas.

Texas Tech came into the Kansas game after consecutive losses to ranked teams (Texas and Kansas State). In the final home game for the 2012 seniors, Seth Doege threw for 476 yards and three touchdowns as the Red Raiders survived the upset bid from the Jayhawks. Doege threw his three touchdown passes to Jakeem Grant, Tyson Williams and Darrin Moore in the first half as Texas Tech built a 21–7 lead midway through the second quarter. Texas Tech had the ball and was in position to drive for another score, but a Doege interception gave the Jayhawks new life and they closed to within 21–17 at the half. Texas Tech's offense stalled in the red zone in the second half as they managed only a pair of field goals. Kansas tied the score on a field goal with 41 seconds remaining, but Doege and the Raiders responded, driving into field goal position in the closing seconds of the game. However, a 41-yard Ryan Bustin field goal attempt barely missed to the left as time ran out. In the first overtime, the Jayhawks scored on a screen pass from Michael Cummings to star running back James Sims, and the Raiders tied things up with senior Eric Stephens' touchdown run and Bustin's extra point. In the second overtime, the Raiders scored on a "wildcat" formation trick play, with Stephens throwing to Darrin Moore for the go-ahead touchdown. Texas Tech's defense made a stand on Kansas' ensuing possession, shutting down three running attempts to set up a fourth down from the 24-yard line. Cummings' pass to the end zone was knocked down, and Texas Tech improved its record to 7–3 for the season.[26]

Oklahoma State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Texas Tech	0	14	0	7	21
Oklahoma State	7	28	17	7	59

Baylor

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Baylor	7	7	14	17	7	52
Texas Tech	14	7	10	14	0	45

Minnesota

	1	2	3	4	Total
Minnesota	10	7	7	7	31
Texas Tech	14	10	0	10	34

After the regular season, but prior to the 2012 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, Tommy Tuberville left the program to take the head coaching job with the Cincinnati Bearcats.[27] Kliff Kingsbury was hired as the new head coach. Nevertheless, Chris Thomsen, interim head coach, oversaw the bowl game.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	NR	NR	NR	RV	RV	RV	RV	18	15	20	25	23 т	NR	NR	NR
Coaches	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	24	RV	20	17	20	RV	25	RV	NR	NR
Harris	Not released						RV	21	17	19	25	22	NR	NR	NR	Not released
BCS	Not released							17	14	18	22	23	NR	NR	NR	Not released

References

1. "Manning Award Watch List, 2012–13". Allstate Sugar Bowl. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
2. Big 12 lands 11 on Maxwell watch list – Big 12 Blog – ESPN
3. "Northwestern State Demons vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders – Box Score – September 01, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. September 1, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
4. "Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Texas State Bobcats – Box Score – September 8, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. September 8, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
5. "New Mexico Lobos vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders – Box Score – September 15, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. September 15, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
6. "Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Iowa State Cyclones – Box Score – September 29, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. September 29, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
7. "Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders – Box Score – October 08, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. October 8, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
8. "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders – Box Score – October 13, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. October 13, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
9. "Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. TCU Horned Frogs – Box Score – October 20, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
10. "Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Kansas State Wildcats – Box Score – October 27, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
11. "Texas Longhorns vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders – November 03, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
12. "Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders – November 10, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
13. "Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys – November 17, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. November 17, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
14. "Baylor Bears vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders – November 24, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. November 24, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
15. "Post-Game Notes – No. 22 Texas at No. 18 Texas Tech". Texas Tech Athletics. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
16. Dupont II, Mike (September 2, 2012). "Red Raiders Rid Themselves of Early Demons". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
17. Graham, Mike. "Don't Look Now, but Texas Tech is No. 1 in Total Defense (and No. 2 in Total Offense)". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
18. "Cornelius Douglas Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week". Texas Tech University. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
19. "Douglas Named Jim Thorpe Defensive Back Of The Week". Texas Tech University. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
20. "Doege's career day helps Texas Tech stun No. 5 West Virginia". The SportsXchange. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
21. "Texas Tech deals No. 5 West Virginia first loss of season1". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
22. "Big 12 Coach of the Week". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
23. "Doege Named Davey O'Brien Semifinalist". Texas Tech University. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
24. Kosmider, Nick (October 20, 2012). "Texas Tech Pulls Off Thrilling 56–53 Victory on the Road Against TCU". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
25. Dupont II, Michael (October 22, 2012). "Football Notebook: Tuberville's corner, More". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
26. "Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders – Box Score". ESPN.com. November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
27. "Tommy Tuberville left recruits at dinner to take Cincinnati job". USA Today. December 12, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2012.