When I came up with the idea for Volume 5 of this series it was with the thinking that the Kansas City Chiefs would be winning their second straight Super Bowl. As it happens, the Chiefs did not repeat as champions. Still, Patrick Mahomes carries a 38-8 record in the NFL regular season and 44-10 record overall with the playoffs included. It’s a beyond impressive start to a NFL career which begs the questions…how did Mahomes go 13-16 in college at Texas Tech?
I’ll admit, I wasn’t a believer of Mahomes coming out of college. As the Wall Street Journal pointed at the time from 1996 through 2016 the best quarterback taken in the first 2 rounds of the NFL who had a losing record in college was Jay Cutler. Yikes. Turns out, Mahomes was an anomaly in that regard.
So, how did the Red Raiders lose 16 games with Mahomes? Largely with some of the most sickening defense witnessed in NCAA history. Let’s now take a walk through each defeat:
2014
vs. Texas 34-13 Loss
Mahomes left this game in the 2nd quarter with an injury while trailing 10-6. Texas would roll comfortably as the Red Raiders were shutout in the second half.
vs. Oklahoma 42-30 Loss
Mahomes comes back after a bye week, but Tech blows a 21-7 lead as the Sooners go on a 35-3 run in the second half for the win. Oklahoma were -3 in turnovers but still out-gained Texas Tech by 31 yards.
vs. Baylor 48-46 Loss
The first huge game from Mahomes as he throws for 598 yards and 6 touchdowns. But, Tech played catch up the entire game trailing 42-17 at one point. Four straight touchdowns come up short when a 2-point conversion fails by Mahomes with just over a minute remaining.
2015
vs. TCU 55-52 Loss
Following a 3-0 start to the season, Tech loses with 23 seconds remaining on a tipped TCU touchdown. The Red Raiders got dangerously close to scoring on a bunch of laterals with no time remaining after a roughing the passer call on Mahomes gave them a free play. These teams combined for 70 first downs, 1,357 yards, and zero turnovers.
vs. Baylor 63-35 Loss
Baylor explodes for 49 points in the first half led by running back Shock Linwood who finishes the day with 221 yards on only 21 carries. Tech accumulates 636 yards but goes -3 in turnovers during the loss.
at Oklahoma 63-27 Loss
Baker Mayfield doesn’t need to do much as 4 interceptions from Mahomes and another crippling run defense effort allow Oklahoma to total 405 yards on the ground.
vs. Oklahoma State 70-53 Loss
The Red Raiders led this game 17-0 and by at least 17 points on 2 other separate occasions in the first half. Texas Tech would be held scoreless in the 3rd quarter, Mahomes would throw a pair of pick sixes, and Oklahoma State would cruise to the win.
at West Virginia 31-26 Loss
A normal score loss!?? I couldn’t find anything memorable about this game but West Virginia did rush for 300 yards on 57 carries.
vs. LSU 56-27 Loss
LSU only faced 9 third down conversions in this bowl game and rushed for 377 yards. Mahomes tried to keep pace with 370 yards and 4 touchdowns but it wasn’t enough.
2016
at Arizona State 68-55 Loss
Sun Devils running back Kalen Ballage ties the NCAA record with 8 total touchdowns. Mahomes throws for 540 yards, leads the team in rushing, but throws 2 picks. Arizona State notches 34 first downs, 301 rushing yards, and 652 total yards.
at Kansas State 44-38 Loss
Tech gets shut down in the second half, Mahomes throws a pick six, a trio of 4th down conversions failed, and Kansas State escapes despite being out-gained by 257 yards.
vs. West Virginia 48-17 Loss
Bad day at the office for the Tech offense as they put up just 379 yards with Mahomes being benched in the 4th quarter. The Red Raiders would give up 650 yards.
vs. Oklahoma 66-59 Loss
The one everyone remembers. The team’s combined for a NCAA-record 1,708 yards. Mahomes throws EIGHTY-EIGHT passes for 734 yards. Baker Mayfield throws for 545 yards and Joe Mixon runs for 263 yards. This game featured 4 punts, 1 turnover on downs, 1 fumble, 2 field goals, and 17 touchdowns.
vs. Texas 45-37 Loss
Tech’s run defense practically doesn’t exist as the Horns put up 414 yards on the ground. Mahomes throws for 367 yards but it took 59 attempts to do so. Even a bunch of penalties from Texas can’t help the Red Raiders win.
at Oklahoma State 45-44 Loss
Mahomes leads a 13-play 88 yard touchdown drive only to see the PAT missed. The Cowboys get a few nice runs and are able to run out the clock for the 1-point win. Texas Tech has 8 more first downs but gives up 605 yards to Oklahoma State.
at Iowa State 66-10 Loss
The Cyclones score their most points in a game in nearly 40 years in Matt Campbell’s first season with the program. A Mahomes pick six capped off a school-record 31 points in the second quarter for Iowa State. Tech is out-gained by 302 yards, sheesh.
This is a good lesson that a talented QB cannot fix everything (but it can help). I’m curious now that the Chiefs are paying him so much (now that he’s off the rookie contract) if they are always going to have holes on their roster that hamper their ability to win it all.
Wow, a defense that would make Van Gorder blush. But, that said, the words “pick six” showed up in three different games and those can be back-breakers and turning points…So I’m guessing Mahomes own mistakes and likely being immature as a player and too gunslinger-y (in the ill-advised way) also wasn’t helping.
I wasn’t sold on him either, so I don’t blame you. Obviously though he’s received excellent coaching, has an ideal system and has grown a lot into the best of the best. I don’t think system/coaching would have made just anyone work, I give Mahomes total props…But the right guy in the right spot is a thing of beauty, and that’s definitely Mahomes and KC.
His entire career at Tech was similar to the second half of 2014 Everett Golson. Both QBs basically had to score every time they had the ball because their defenses were so bad. Golson and Mahomes put up monster stats in these shootout-y games, but also made a lot of mistakes because they were pressing so much.
Being the QB of a team with a nonexistent defense must be the worst thing ever.
Spot on, Golden.
It didn’t help Golson that Kelly was always in his face and blaming him for anything that went wrong. The kid had massive talent (at least for cfb) and Kelly had no idea how to motivate him.
In a nutshell, because Kliff Kingsbury is not a very good koach.