Kansas State Falls to Texas Tech, 43–20 on Harley Day

K-State fans dressed in costumes cheer in the student section. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

Willie the Wildcat rides a harley in The Bill. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

Carla Bernat holds up her Augusta International golf trophy. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

President Linton waves from a sidecar attached to a harley. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

Avery Johnson yells while celebrating after scoring a touchdown. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

Uso Seumalo celebrates after sacking the Texas Tech quarterback. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

Jayce Brown runs the football. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

The student section in Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

Willie the Wildcat cat makes a K with his body in front of the crowd. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

A woman holds up pompoms on a harley. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

The student section holds a large banner with EMAW spelled on it. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

Avery Johnson celebrates with Linon Cure after scoring a touchdown. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

The K-State band performs in front of the student section. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

Band director Dr. Tracz walks onto the field in Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

Avery Johnson throws the football. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

Avery Johnson runs the football with Texas Tech defenders chasing him. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

Texas Tech celebrates after scoring a touchdown. Courtesy: Ashton Todd

Coming into Saturday’s matchup, the 13th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders carried an impressive 7-1 record (4-1 in Big 12 play). Kansas State entered at 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the conference, playing its best football of the season after a slow start. This game marked quarterback Behren Morton’s return from a knee injury suffered on October 11. The Wildcats were set to face arguably their toughest and most disciplined opponent of the season.

First Quarter

Both defenses came out strong, trading interceptions on consecutive plays — Austin Romaine secured his first career pick for Kansas State, while Texas Tech’s Brice Pollock snagged his fourth of the year. With 7:39 left in the quarter, freshman quarterback Avery Johnson broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown run, putting the Wildcats on the board first.

Second Quarter

Texas Tech took control in the second quarter, outscoring Kansas State 12-0 behind two field goals and a one-yard rushing touchdown from Cameron Dickey — his 10th of the season. Turnovers continued to plague the Wildcats, as wide receiver Jayce Brown lost a fumble midway through the quarter. The K-State offense managed just 20 total yards in the period, trailing 12-7 at halftime despite receiving the second-half kickoff.

Third Quarter

On just the fourth play of the second half, Texas Tech’s defense struck again, forcing a fumble by tight end Garrett Oakley — the second forced by Jordan Rodriguez on the day. The Red Raiders capitalized quickly, scoring three plays later on a 46-yard touchdown run from J’Koby Williams.

Kansas State briefly stopped the bleeding with an 18-yard rushing touchdown from Johnson, his second of the night, cutting the deficit to 19-14. However, the Red Raiders’ offense stayed hot, adding 10 unanswered points to close the quarter with a 29-14 lead heading into the final frame.

Fourth Quarter

The Wildcats opened the fourth quarter with momentum, as Johnson connected with Oakley for a nine-yard touchdown. A failed two-point conversion, however, kept it a two-possession game at 29-20. Kansas State had multiple chances to climb back within one score but came up empty, turning the ball over twice more — first on a Johnson fumble returned for a touchdown, then on an interception.

Texas Tech sealed the game late with a touchdown pass from Morton at the 2:54 mark, capping off a dominant performance and handing Kansas State its first Big 12 home loss of the season, 43-20.

What’s Next

Kansas State falls to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in Big 12 play, now fighting for bowl eligibility with two wins needed in the final three games. The Wildcats will enter a bye week before traveling to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State on November 15.

Texas Tech improves to 8-1 (5-1 Big 12), keeping both Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff hopes alive. The Red Raiders return to Lubbock next week to host the unbeaten BYU Cougars at 11 a.m. on ABC, with College GameDay set to broadcast live from the matchup.