Commentary: Tech-TCU: Misery loves company

There was a time – that being most of the spring and summer – when this Thursday Night Special between Texas Tech and TCU looked like it might carry some serious weight.

It was a game that likely would have serious implications at the top of the Big 12 standings. The national finalist with a 12-2 record of a year ago against a team that won the Texas Bowl and finished 8-5.

Then something wild happened. The season started.

In an early game on the first Saturday of the season, TCU got the Deion Sanders era rolling in allowing 562 yards in a 45-42 loss to Colorado. Not to be outdone, later that night, the Red Raiders made a 17-0 lead disappear over the final three quarters to fall at Wyoming in double overtime, 35-33.

It really hasn’t got any better for the Frogs and Raiders since. Oh, they’ve both had games where they looked like many thought they would.

TCU handily defeated Houston, 36-13, rolled BYU, 44-11, and handled sneaky good SMU, 34-17.

Tech took No. 5 Oregon to the end, falling 38-30. Then had a two-week stretch in which it raced past Houston, 49-28, and had its most complete game of the season with a 39-14 win at Baylor.

But those games have not really defined their seasons. The best thing to say about either one is that TCU, at 4-4, at least does not have a losing record. Tech does, entering Thursday’s game at 3-5.

It’s good they’re playing each other because, as the old saying goes, misery loves company. Both have been off since Oct. 21 when they lost in woeful ways – TCU was routed by Kansas State, 41-3, and Tech had five turnovers in a 27-14 loss at BYU, which is not a good team.

Both have resorted to playing freshman quarterbacks after the starters went down. In Tech’s case, two quarterbacks have been injured. That’s been par for the course at Tech for so long it’s hard to remember when it wasn’t.

If nothing else, TCU and Tech have shown it is a slippery slope for all but a handful of college teams that win on sheer talent. In 2022, the Frogs seemed golden. They were 7-1 in one-score games and played five games against backup quarterbacks. Meanwhile, a year ago, Tech won three games in overtime, and another by four points thanks to two goal-line stands.

That’s not to say either team was lucky. Let’s just say they were both fortunate. Winning close games time and time again is not sustainable over the long haul. They even out as both teams have shown even if it takes more than one season.

Not sure who needs a win more to keep faint bowl hopes flickering. Here’s a late vote for Tech coach Joey McGuire. TCU’s Sonny Dykes did have the Frogs on an improbable run last year in a 12-2 season and proved himself at SMU and Louisiana Tech.

As much as he’s elevated Tech’s recruiting profile, there remains uncertainty on McGuire. He’s easy to like. His enthusiasm, which sometimes is too much, is still infectious. But teams have to win. He’s 11-10 in his 21 games.

Yes, he inherited some problems, and maybe success came too quickly, but doubts have crept in. That happens when the Raiders have been favored in seven of their eight games, but have only a 3-5 record to show for it.

A loss in Lubbock would only pour more fuel on those doubts for a coach in his first two years leading a college program. It would be particularly glaring when coaches like Lance Leipold at Kansas, Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State and Matt Campbell at Iowa State have overachieved based on what was expected in the preseason.

Tech is expected to start quarterback Behren Morton, who has missed the last 1 ½ games with a variety of injuries, most notably a sprained AC joint in his right throwing shoulder. Jake Strong, a true freshman, got the 9-11 call. He did as well as he could, but six interceptions in six quarters tell about all anyone needs to know.

The Raiders have lost their last four in Lubbock to TCU. Tech hasn’t won in the series on the South Plains since a 20-10 win in Kliff Kingsbury’s first year in 2013. That one too was on a Thursday night.

If the Raiders can’t find it within themselves to stop that streak as well as a two-game slide, a disappointing season just fell over the edge.

Jon Mark Beilue writes about regional sports for The Eastern New Mexico News.