Texas Tech’s switch to sophomore quarterback McClane Carter to start the game but it was Nic Shimonek that came to the rescue.
The senior quarterback entered the game in the fourth quarter and threw two touchdown passes including the go-ahead score to Cam Batson with under two minutes remaining in the Red Raiders 27-23 win in Austin.
The victory means Texas Tech (6-6) is bowl eligible for the third time during the Kliff Kingsbury era.
Texas jumped in front 7-0 four plays into the game when Sam Ehlinger found Armanti Foreman on a 27-yard pass.
Carter would complete his first four pass attempts on Texas Tech’s first drive before the Red Raiders were forced to punt.
Texas Tech would even the ball game at 7-7 two possession later when Carter capped a seven-play, 81 yard drive with a one-yard keeper.
The Red Raiders would go ahead 10-7 early in the second quarter on a Clayton Hatfield 32-yard field goal.
After giving up the touchdown on the first possession, the Red Raider defense forced four straight three and outs.
The Longhorn’s offense finally started to move the ball but had to settle for a game-tying field goal after running nine plays inside the Texas Tech’s ten yard line.
Carter’s struggles started midway through the second quarter.
After going 11-for-15 for 175 yards in the first quarter, Carter was 1-10 for 10 yards and two interceptions in the second quarter.
Texas turned both interceptions into a total of ten points and a 20-10 halftime lead.
Texas Tech answered back in the third quarter with two forced turnovers but the offense was unable to turn them into points.
After a Texas field goal to start the 4th quarter, Kliff Kingsbury turned the reigns back over to Nic Shimonek.
The senior quarterback completed his first two passes with the first going for 52 yards to Keke Coutee and the second a 13-yard touchdown to T.J. Vasher to make it 23-20.
Texas Tech’s Justus Parker forced the third turnover of the second half when he picked off a Sam Ehlinger pass and returned it to the Texas 14-yard line.
