Big 12 Conference names Texas Tech football QB Donovan Smith offensive player of the week

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Texas Tech quarterback Donovan Smith on Monday was named the Big 12 offensive player of the week for his performance in the Red Raiders' 33-30 double-overtime victory Saturday against Houston, an outcome that knocked the Cougars out of top-25 national rankings in both the media and coaches' polls.

The sophomore from Frenship completed 36 of 58 passes for 351 yards and two touchdowns. Though he was sacked five times and threw three interceptions, Smith rallied the Red Raiders late in the game. With Tech trailing 20-17 with 37 seconds left in regulation, he started a tying drive with a 27-yard run. He later converted a fourth-and-20 with a 21-yard pass in the first overtime to keep the game alive and then won it in the second overtime with a 9-yard touchdown run.

Tech-UT time set

Texas Tech's Sept. 24 home game against Texas has been scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff with ABC or ESPN providing the television coverage. The network will be determined after games this coming weekend.

The Big 12 named Donovan Smith offensive player of the week on Monday. The Texas Tech quarterback threw for 351 yards and two touchdowns and ran for the game-winning touchdown in a 33-30 double-overtime victory Saturday against Houston, knocking the Cougars out of the Top 25.
The Big 12 named Donovan Smith offensive player of the week on Monday. The Texas Tech quarterback threw for 351 yards and two touchdowns and ran for the game-winning touchdown in a 33-30 double-overtime victory Saturday against Houston, knocking the Cougars out of the Top 25.

More:Myles Price vying to stand out in Zach Kittley's offense for Texas Tech football

The Big 12 TV partners made their selections Monday on the usual 12-day advance notice. Other start times set for Sept. 24 games are Baylor at Iowa State at 11 a.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU; Duke at Kansas at 11 a.m. on Fox Sports 1; TCU at SMU at 11 a.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU; and Kansas State at Oklahoma at 7 p.m. on FOX.

That week also has a Thursday night game with Virginia Tech hosting West Virginia at 6:30 p.m. CDT on ESPN.

Personnel updates

Tech coach Joey McGuire said Monday that the availability of starting guard Weston Wright won't be determined until late in the week. The Red Raiders take on No. 16 North Carolina State at 6 p.m. CDT Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

Wright, who has 33 career starts, got hurt in the second half of Saturday's game and didn't return.

"It was just an ankle sprain," McGuire said, "but with a 320-pound guy, sprains take a little bit longer, so we'll see. He looked good today, but we won't know anything (about his game availability) until Friday."

Cornerback-return man Adrian Frye's availability also will be a late-week determination. Frye suffered a bruised quadriceps in the season opener and was limited to return duty against Houston. Malik Dunlap took his place on defense.

McGuire said he expects Krishon Merriweather to be ready to go Saturday. The Tech middle linebacker suffered a hyperextended knee on Houston's touchdown in the first overtime, and Dimitri Moore played the second overtime in his place.

More:McGuire asks fans not to throw bottles onto field

"He's walking around, feels great today," McGuire said. "When I saw him this morning getting treatment, he said, 'I feel good, coach.' The good thing with him is he's a vet so if he doesn't practice ... I expect him to practice, but if he has a day where he doesn't, he's played so much football that I don't think it's going to hurt him."

McGuire said receivers Chadarius Townsend and Jordan Brown (high ankle) and defensive end L.B. Moore (hamstring) are returning this week.

Coaches well acquainted

Texas Tech is going halfway across the country this weekend to play North Carolina State at 6 p.m. CDT Saturday, but the coaches of the teams are much closer, figuratively speaking.

When Tech coach Joey McGuire was head coach at Cedar Hill and NC State coach Dave Doeren was an assistant at Kansas, McGuire said Doeren was the first coach to offer one of his players a scholarship. Wide receiver Marcus Herford took the offer and played for the Jayhawks.

"We've been friends ever since," McGuire said. "He (Doeren) flew me to Wisconsin and I spoke at their clinic. We've kept (in touch with) each other. He was one of the first persons to text me whenever I got this job. Just a class act."

Doeren was an assistant at Wisconsin from 2006-10. As head coach at NC State since 2013, he's 66-49, including 9-3 last year. Former Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill is special assistant to the NC State head coach.

"Ruffin McNeill, on his staff, is just one of the best people in the world," McGuire said. "Texas Tech Red Raiders know what kind of guy he is. And so (I'm) really excited. I can't wait to see him. I can't wait to play 'em."

Not so special

Houston return man Nathaniel Dell burned Tech with a 55-yard punt-return touchdown that was called back for roughing the punter and a 34-yard punt return that wasn't called back. Both came on line drives by Tech punter Austin McNamara. That bothered McGuire.

So did Trey Wolff's mis-hit on a failed 45-yard field goal and a kickoff that, instead of a touchback, resulted in a return to the Cougars' 33-yard line.

"Y'all know what I feel about our specialists," McGuire said, "but they struggled. I don't know why they struggled. That punt was a line drive. We had two of those. That's putting your cover team in a bad situation. We turned around and boomed another one.

"And Wolff, you don't want those (kickoffs), with the leg that he has, to be returnable, so it's not all on the return teams. It's not all on the scheme. It's a mixture of both. I think there's definitely going to be some applied pressure whenever it comes to special teams this week."

College football

Who: Texas Tech at North Carolina State

When: 6 p.m. CDT Saturday

Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, N.C.

Records: Texas Tech 2-0, NC State 2-0

Rankings (AP/coaches): Texas Tech receiving votes/receiving votes. NC State 16/12

Line: NC State by 10 1/2

Last game: Texas Tech 33, No. 25 Houston 30 (2OT); NC State 55, Charleston Southern 3

Last meeting: NC State 49, Tech 21 in 2003 in Raleigh, N.C.

TV: ESPN2

Game guarantee: NC State pays Texas Tech $300,000

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 awards Texas Tech football Donovan Smith player of week honor