First Impressions: LSU 56, Texas Tech 27

Red Raiders’ Mahomes passed to Grant for a 3-yard TD.

Harris’ numbers were certainly an improvement after a dismal four-game finish to the season where he threw five interceptions and just three touchdowns.

The Red Raiders completed an eight-play, 61-yard touchdown drive that ended in Grant’s third touchdown of the game.

Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury may need to take a lot of chances to upset the Tigers. That has been something we have struggled with most of the season, but we really stepped up and dominated the boards.

Fournette joined Alabama’s Derrick Henry as the only running backs in Southeastern Conference history to rush for more than 1,900 yards in a season. Dealing with Fournette will likely be their biggest test to date.

Texas Tech is very familiar with playing in Houston during the postseason as the Big 12 representative has played a bowl game in the city four times before, but the Texas Bowl will be the first visit since the 2012 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, which was also played at NRG Stadium. He finished with 1,741 rushing yards on the year for 18 touchdowns and 1,950 total yards of offense.

“(We wanted to) come in and get ready for the next season”, said Fournette to ESPN when asked after the win about his mindset heading into the game.

Miles said perhaps the most outstanding performer for the Tigers was defensive back Devin Voorhies, who won the calf roping event for LSU. Texas Tech wound up with 29 rushing yards.

Elijah Hood ran the ball 13 times for 118 yards for the Tar Heels, who posted 487 total yards on offense in the defeat.

LSU took over at its 34 and used Fournette for three-straight that netted 38 yards to the Red Raiders 28.

4 Teams in the nation have allowed their opponents to convert at least half of their third-down snaps into first downs and six teams in the nation have converted at least half of their third-down snaps into first downs.

LSU’s 56 points broke the school record for points in a bowl game and set a new Texas Bowl for points by a single team. But last night, even Tech’s all-American Le’Raven Clark was made to look second-rate…by a true freshman, LSU defensive end Arden Key.

The Red Raiders were driving on their next possession when Rickey Jefferson intercepted a pass that was deflected on the LSU 1-yard line. But, given the way this season has gone for the Tigers, you just didn’t know exactly how it would turn out.

Linebackers Deion Jones and Kendell Beckwith each had eight tackles for LSU, while combining for 3.5 sacks and six tackles for loss.

LSU led 21-13 at halftime.

Texas Tech buried 30-of-58 from the floor which included a 3-of-8 effort from beyond the three-point arc. The sophomore running back then threw a pass to Malachi Dupre, who was interfered with while trying to make the grab inside the 5-yard line. The 46-yard pass setup a 4-yard touchdown run by Fournette, his fourth score of the night. Jakeem Grant set a Texas Tech bowl record with three receiving touchdowns. Les Miles’ squad entered the matchup against Notre Dame as 8.5-point favorites, but fell 31-28. These teams first met in 1954…. His ability to extend plays helped Texas Tech’s offense find a rhythm and helped them stay in the game until the third quarter.