2014 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team


The 2014 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season as members of the Big 12 Conference. Kliff Kingsbury lead the Red Raiders in his second season as the program's fifteenth 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 4–8, 2–7 in Big 12 play to finish in eighth place.

Preseason

Quarterback Davis Webb was named as the starter at the position and was selected for the Maxwell Award and Manning Award watch lists. Running back/linebacker Kenny Williams was selected for the Paul Hornung Award watchlist. Placekicker Ryan Bustin was selected for the Lou Groza Award watchlist. Le'Raven Clark was selected for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award watchlists, in addition to being selected as a preseason 2nd Team All-American selection by USA Today. Jakeem Grant was named to the Fred Biletnikoff Award watchlist.
As of April 2014, there were 34,100 season tickets were sold for the 2014 season, surpassing the previous season ticket record of 32,227 that were purchased prior to the start of the 2010 season. The Texas Tech athletic department would go on to sell out the stadium through season tickets alone for the 2014 season with a record of 38,502 season tickets purchased.

Coaching changes

Transfers

Incoming
NamePos.HeightWeightHometownPrev. school
Nic ShimonekQB6'3225Corsicana, TXIowa
Dominique RobertsonOT6'5300Riverside, CARiverside Community College
Devin LauderdaleWR5'11170Houston, TXNavarro College
Jamarcus HowardCB5'11190Coffeyville, KSCoffeyville Community College
Josh KeysS6'1192Seminary, MSMississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Keland McElrathDT6'5290Clarksdale, MSCoahoma Community College
Rika KeviDT6'2350San Francisco, CACollege of San Mateo
Marcus SmithDT6'3305Highland, KSHighland Community College
Brandon ThorpeDE6'5275Tucker, GAHighland Community College
Shaquille DavisOT6'4320Walnut, CAMount San Antonio College

Game summaries

Central Arkansas

StatisticsUCATTU
First downs2825
Total yards406636
Rushing yards178184
Passing yards228452
Turnovers02
Time of possession33:3626:24

The Texas Tech Red Raiders opened up their 2014 season at home with a 42–35 win over the Central Arkansas Bears. The Red Raiders committed 15 penalties during the game, but still gained a total of 636 yards against the Bears' 406. After two Webb interceptions, the Bears scored to take a 16–7 lead in the 2nd quarter. After receiving an onside kick with 3 minutes left in the game, the Red Raiders held onto the ball to end the game.
Davis Webb threw for 452 yards and four touchdowns during the season opener.

At UTEP

StatisticsTTUUTEP
First downs2024
Total yards504393
Rushing yards226277
Passing yards278116
Turnovers10
Time of possession21:0039:00

Despite only gaining 20 first downs against the Miners' 24 and possessing the ball for 21 minutes, Texas Tech managed to edge out UTEP for a 30–26 win.

Arkansas

StatisticsARKTTU
First downs3220
Total yards499353
Rushing yards438101
Passing yards61252
Turnovers23
Time of possession40:3919:21

The Red Raiders lost their first game of the season against former Southwest Conference rivals, the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Raiders were plagued by both turnovers and penalties and couldn't keep up with Arkansas's run game. Texas Tech was 5–60 on penalties, while Arkansas was only 2–15. The Razorbacks managed to rush for 438 yards, while the Red Raiders only ran for 101.

At No. 24 Oklahoma State

StatisticsTTUOKST
First downs3222
Total yards512528
Rushing yards118158
Passing yards394370
Turnovers32
Time of possession31:5128:09

At No. 23 Kansas State

StatisticsTTUKSU
First downs2029
Total yards347535
Rushing yards46245
Passing yards301290
Turnovers41
Time of possession19:5140:09

West Virginia

StatisticsWVUTTU
First downs2924
Total yards550565
Rushing yards249217
Passing yards301348
Turnovers11
Time of possession30:1329:47

Kansas

StatisticsKUTTU
First downs1926
Total yards363507
Rushing yards128219
Passing yards235288
Turnovers22
Time of possession29:5230:08

At No. 10 TCU

StatisticsTTUTCU
First downs2132
Total yards446785
Rushing yards101305
Passing yards345480
Turnovers40
Time of possession24:5734:08

Texas

StatisticsTEXTTU
First downs2118
Total yards469381
Rushing yards241156
Passing yards228225
Turnovers22
Time of possession30:4529:15

No. 24 Oklahoma

StatisticsOKLATTU
First downs2523
Total yards517486
Rushing yards38493
Passing yards133393
Turnovers30
Time of possession32:4027:20

At Iowa State

StatisticsTTUISU
First downs2727
Total yards600569
Rushing yards272265
Passing yards328304
Turnovers21
Time of possession25:5733:31

Vs. No. 5 Baylor

StatisticsBAYTTU
First downs3731
Total yards547712
Rushing yards255103
Passing yards292609
Turnovers14
Time of possession33:2926:31