The 2025 Texas Tech Red Raiders were, by almost every metric, the most dominant team in college football this season. They entered the College Football Playoff quarterfinal boasting a staggering +31.5 average point differential — an FBS best and a figure placing them among the most lopsided teams of the modern era. Their season was defined by consistent offensive explosions, as every one of their 12 victories was secured by a margin of at least 20 points, a streak built on a high-octane attack that averaged over 42 points per contest.
That relentless offensive dominance vanished the moment they stepped onto the field in the Orange Bowl against the Oregon Ducks. The Red Raiders struggled in all phases, failing to establish their explosive rushing attack and managing virtually nothing through the air against Oregon’s tenacious front. The final result, a disappointing 23-0 loss to the Ducks, was less shocking for the defeat itself than for how it happened.
Quarterback Behren Morton and his cohort failed to find the rhythm that defined their championship season, committing costly turnovers and racking up a meager yardage total that was unrecognizable compared to their season average. For a team that lived and breathed by their offensive firepower, this New Year's Day showing will forever be remembered as the unexpected collapse of the Big 12 champions' prolific attack, and the sudden, silent end to a historic season.
Here's more on Texas Tech's brutal offensive performance in Miami.
MORE: Oregon shuts out Texas Tech in Orange Bowl
Oregon-Texas Tech, by the numbers: 0
The Orange Bowl shutout was an absolutely staggering outcome for the Red Raiders, who enjoyed an overpowering offense in 2025.
Coming into the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, the Red Raiders averaged a phenomenal 42.5 points per game, making them one of the nation’s most prolific scoring units. Even in their lone regular-season defeat they scored 22 points in a four-point loss to Arizona State.
The gulf between Texas Tech's defense and offense right now is a galaxy.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) January 1, 2026
The closest they had come to offensive struggle was a 29-7 victory over BYU in Lubbock, a score that still represented a decisive four-score win. To go from that level of historical scoring dominance to being held to zero points by Oregon is stunning.
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Oregon-Texas Tech, by the numbers: 4-1
The turnover battle was key in the Orange Bowl, with Oregon forcing four turnovers to Texas Tech's one. Three of the four belonged to Ducks freshman cornerback Brandon Finney, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Morton’s unfortunate performance was the key factor in the day’s offensive collapse, as the unit simply could not overcome its own mistakes. He was directly responsible for three of Texas Tech's four turnovers through the first three quarters, including two critical interceptions and a sack-fumble. These costly errors repeatedly killed momentum and, crucially, denied the Red Raiders any chance to score even with a shortened field.
Behren Morton DISASTERCLASS pic.twitter.com/RiJcJPv5oz
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) January 1, 2026
For a team whose success was built on explosiveness and ball control, the sudden loss of both factors —culminating in the Red Raiders' first shutout in years — will define the bitter conclusion to what had been a flawless, high-scoring season.
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Oregon-Texas Tech, by the numbers: 81-62
While Texas Tech’s offense sputtered, Oregon's dismantled their opponent by expertly controlling the tempo and dominating the time of possession from the opening whistle. Oregon ran 81 plays to Texas Tech's 62.
The Ducks dictated the pace of the game, consistently moving the chains and running nearly twice as many offensive plays as the Red Raiders in the first half alone (49 plays for Oregon versus 23 for Texas Tech). This lopsided disparity in play count gave the Oregon defense extended rest while simultaneously wearing down the high-powered Texas Tech defense, which was forced to remain on the field for an exhausting 22:03 of the first half's total clock time, compared to Texas Tech's 7:57.
Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein's control of the game flow was crucial to the shutout, as the Red Raiders never had a chance to unleash their explosive, fast-paced attack, leading directly to the unusual offensive silence. By the end, Oregon had over 37 minutes of time of possession, while Texas Tech had under 21.
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Oregon-Texas Tech, by the numbers: 245-137
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore — considered one of the elite passers in the country and a projected early NFL draft pick — efficiently utilized the game's high volume of offensive plays to accumulate 245 passing yards. In contrast, Texas Tech's Morton, who entered the contest having averaged over 240 yards per game on the season, was held to a paltry 137 passing yards.
This gap reveals not just the dominance of the Oregon defense, which ranks among the nation's best in passing yards allowed per attempt, but also the total lack of rhythm and explosion from the Red Raiders’ aerial attack. For Texas Tech to have a chance against the Ducks' elite defense, Morton needed to play at an elite, Heisman-caliber level. Instead, the pressure and the moment seemingly got the best of him. Morton’s critical turnovers were directly responsible for shutting down drives and shifting momentum, but his inability to connect on deep shots or sustain drives with accuracy sealed the Red Raiders’ fate.
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