Liberty Bowl 2024/ Arkansas vs. Texas Tech/ Taylen Green highlights/ college football news/ Arkansas victory/ MEMPHIS/ Tenn./ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Taylen Green led Arkansas to a 39-26 victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl with 341 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 81 rushing yards. Arkansas dominated with 573 total yards, holding Texas Tech scoreless until late in the second half. The win highlighted Arkansas’ offensive adjustments and defensive resilience.
Liberty Bowl Recap: Quick Looks
- Arkansas’ Star: Taylen Green threw for 341 yards, two touchdowns, and rushed for 81 yards.
- Texas Tech’s Challenge: Played without leading rusher Tahj Brooks and struggled defensively.
- Big Plays: A 94-yard touchdown pass from Green set a Liberty Bowl record.
- Score Summary: Arkansas led 21-3 early, controlled the second half for the win.
- Defensive Adjustments: Arkansas’ strategy neutralized Texas Tech’s running game in the second half.
- Coaching Takeaways: Arkansas’ Sam Pittman praised his team; Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire noted execution flaws.
Taylen Green Powers Arkansas Past Texas Tech 39-26 in Liberty Bowl
Deep Look
Taylen Green delivered an outstanding performance to propel Arkansas to a 39-26 victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl on Friday night in Memphis. The Razorbacks (7-6) showcased a dynamic offensive performance, racking up 573 total yards, while their defense held strong against the Red Raiders (8-5) in the second half.
Green completed 11 of 21 passes for 341 yards, including two touchdowns, and added another 81 yards rushing. A key moment came in the first half when Green connected with Dazmin James for a 94-yard touchdown pass, the longest in Liberty Bowl history.
Reflecting on the win, Green emphasized the team effort behind the victory, saying, “All the stats you see, I didn’t do it by myself.”
Texas Tech entered the game shorthanded, missing star running back Tahj Brooks, who opted out due to personal reasons after a season with 1,505 rushing yards. In his absence, J’Koby Williams stepped up, rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Will Hammond, filling in for the injured Behren Morton, threw for 280 yards and one touchdown but couldn’t overcome Arkansas’ defensive adjustments in the second half.
The Razorbacks built a commanding 21-3 lead in the first half with explosive plays on offense. While Texas Tech narrowed the gap before halftime, Arkansas dominated the second half by effectively adjusting their defensive strategy to limit Hammond’s rushing ability. The Red Raiders were held scoreless until the final minutes of the game, a testament to Arkansas’ improved execution.
Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman praised his team for their performance, particularly for capitalizing on Texas Tech’s defensive weaknesses.
“We’ve got good players,” Pittman said. “Just because you guys don’t know about ‘em, doesn’t mean they’re not good players.”
For Texas Tech, the loss highlighted recurring issues with their passing defense, which ranked last in the Big 12, allowing an average of 305 passing yards per game. Green’s 341 passing yards further exposed the Red Raiders’ vulnerability in the secondary.
Coach Joey McGuire acknowledged the defensive struggles and execution errors, stating, “We gave up too many big plays.”
Takeaways
- Texas Tech: True freshman Will Hammond started at quarterback after Behren Morton underwent shoulder surgery. Despite flashes of promise, inexperience and defensive shortcomings hurt the Red Raiders’ chances.
- Arkansas: The Razorbacks exploited Texas Tech’s weak secondary, with Green and the offense showcasing explosive capabilities.
Up Next
- Texas Tech: Coach Joey McGuire will continue addressing defensive issues, including recent changes to the coaching staff.
- Arkansas: Coach Sam Pittman is bolstering the roster through transfer portal acquisitions to address offensive line needs.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.