Things have not gotten any better since Mike Gundy was fired as OSU’s head coach, in fact, some may argue that things are worse. The Cowboys suffered yet another blowout loss, this time it was at Texas Tech, 42-0, on Saturday. The Cowboys now have three shutout losses of at least 42 points since 2022. The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes due to lightning in the area.

Texas Tech is now 7-1, 4-1 Big 12 and the Cowboys dropped to 1-7, 0-5 Big 12.

It was the first home game for the Red Raiders since a ban on the tradition of throwing tortillas during the kickoff. Since a new rule took affect in August, the team had been previously penalized this season for throwing the food staple on the field, so school authorities decided to no longer allow the tradition.

“I don’t know if I was more impressed with a shutout that hadn’t happened in the Big 12 since 2005, or the lack of tortillas being thrown,” said Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire. “I am so proud of our fans and Red Raider nation for one, believing in this team, and doing what we needed to do to help this team win.”

The Red Raiders got off to a hot start and never looked back, as J’Koby Williams returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.

After causing the Cowboys to go three-and-out, and following a blocked punt, Texas Tech scored on their first play from scrimmage as quarterback Will Hammond connected with Williams on a 26-yard touchdown pass, the extra point kick missed, and the Red Raiders led 13-0 with 12:56 left in the first quarter.

Texas Tech extended their lead to 28-0 before halftime as Jacob Rodriguez returned an OSU fumble 69 yards for a touchdown. It was his 11th career fumble recovery putting him second among active FBS players.

In the second quarter, third-string quarterback Mitch Griffis replaced Hammond who appeared to injure his lower right leg on a run.

Early in the third quarter, the Red Raiders scored on a 42-yard pass from Mitch Griffis to Caleb Douglas, and later in the quarter, Griffis kept the ball for a one-yard touchdown run. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.

“Special teams-wise, I thought that we opened up the game in a big way, of course, for a touchdown,” said McGuire. “I don’t know where we are in the nation on blocked kicks, but you know another punt block, we had one last week and got another one.”

Oklahoma State covered only 182 yards of total offense, while Texas Tech picked up 370 total yards.

Oklahoma State will visit Kansas (4-4, 2-3 Big 12) this Saturday, at 3:00 p.m. Central on ESPN+.