Texas Tech 43–20 Kansas State: turnovers bury Wildcats as Behren Morton, J’Koby Williams power No. 13 Red Raiders in Manhattan

Texas Tech snapped its series skid in emphatic fashion on Saturday, punishing a wave of Kansas State miscues to win 43–20 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Quarterback Behren Morton, back from injury, was sharp and steady, while J’Koby Williams gashed the Wildcats on the ground as the Red Raiders tightened their Big 12 title chase.

How Texas Tech vs Kansas State got away

Kansas State actually struck first behind quarterback Avery Johnson, whose 46-yard keeper lit up the first quarter. From there, the afternoon turned into a clinic in capitalization. Texas Tech flipped short fields into points, stacked kicks and red-zone conversions, and kept nudging the margin wider as the Wildcats’ errors piled up.

• Turnover tide: Kansas State coughed it up multiple times—two Johnson interceptions, a late fumble returned for a touchdown, and other ball-security issues—swinging both field position and momentum.

• Fourth-down freeze: The Wildcats went 0-for-4 on fourth down, bleeding possessions that might have slowed Tech’s roll.

• Field-position squeeze: Even when Texas Tech stalled, long field goals and pinning punts kept the pressure on a tiring defense.

By the middle of the third quarter, the pattern was clear: Tech’s offense hummed, the defense hunted the ball, and the Wildcats were chasing the game with fewer and fewer outs left.

Box score snapshot: stars who decided it

Texas Tech Red Raiders

• QB Behren Morton: 249 yards, 2 TD — poised return, efficient on money downs.

• RB J’Koby Williams: 135 rushing yards, 1 TD — the 41-yard burst out of halftime was the backbreaker.

• Kicking game: Long-range accuracy (including a 55-yard make) turned empty trips into scoreboard pressure.

Kansas State Wildcats

• QB Avery Johnson: 199 pass yards (1 TD, 2 INT); 86 rush yards, 2 TD — electric as a runner, but giveaways proved costly.

• Defense: Multiple goal-line stands early, ultimately worn down by time on the field.

The moments that swung the game

• 1Q — Johnson fireworks: A 46-yard QB keeper gave K-State a 7–0 start and an early jolt.

• 2Q — Tech flips the script: Short-field TD (PAT missed) and a 55-yard field goal made it 12–7 at the half.

• 3Q 12:54 — Williams to daylight: A 41-yard touchdown run stretched it to 19–7, silencing the stadium.

• 3Q — Johnson’s answer: An 18-yard TD run pulled it to 19–14 before Tech rebuilt cushion with a drive and a 1-yard Morton TD toss (29–14).

• 4Q — dagger defense: Strip/score closed the door, and a late Morton strike completed the rout.

(Times rounded; sequence reflects the pivotal swings.)

What it means for both teams

Texas Tech (8–1, 5–1 Big 12)
The Red Raiders exit Manhattan with résumé shine and tiebreak leverage. Morton’s return rebalances the offense—vertical threats plus a credible run game—while a turnover-hunting defense fits November football. With contenders clustered at the top, Tech’s clean operation in road environments is a differentiator.

Kansas State (4–5, 3–3 Big 12)
There’s plenty to build on—Johnson’s legs remain a weekly problem for defenses, and the front held up for long stretches—but the margin for error evaporates when giveaways, fourth-down stalls, and drops stack together. A bye week arrives at the right time to reset protection, ball security, and short-yardage answers.

Tactical snapshot: why Tech’s plan worked

1. Early explosives, late body blows — Tech mixed shot plays with tempo changes, then leaned into duo/counter after halftime to grind clock and yards.

2. Edge discipline vs. Johnson — Contain rules and second-level spies limited the damage to individual bursts rather than sustained drives.

3. Special teams as a weapon — Long field goals and directional punts controlled game state when drives fizzled.

Where to watch highlights and replays

Full-game replays, condensed versions, and highlight packages are available across official team and league platforms and within major sports apps. If you’re streaming, search by matchup and date (Texas Tech at Kansas State — Nov. 1, 2025). Radio archives and postgame shows typically post within 24 hours.

Big 12 race check

With this win, Texas Tech stays firmly in the title picture, tracking close behind the league’s unbeaten and one-loss pacesetters heading into the home stretch. Kansas State faces a recalibration week before a pivotal November road trip that will determine bowl positioning.

 Texas Tech married efficiency with opportunism. Kansas State flashed danger but couldn’t outrun its mistakes. In a league where November is all about turnover margin and situational football, the Red Raiders just authored the blueprint.