Why Kansas State isn’t afraid to go up tempo in potential shootout against Texas Tech
Here’s a stat you don’t see very often: Texas Tech ran 100 plays during its 37-34 victory over Texas last weekend.
But that isn’t an unusual number for the Red Raiders. Strange as it may seem to see that many plays from a single team in a game, they managed to run even more (103) earlier this season during a 33-30 win over Houston.
Few teams play with a faster pace or go for it more often on fourth down than Texas Tech, and that has resulted in a tidal wave of extra plays under new coach Joey McGuire.
Opposing teams have tried to combat that playing style in different ways, including slowing games down with a methodical approach on offense.
Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman has already decided what his strategy will be when the Wildcats host the Red Raiders at 11 a.m. on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
“In the past I would have said we probably need to slow it down, but for our offense to be successful they need to be in rhythm,” Klieman said. “One way to get in rhythm is by going faster.”
The Wildcats have been moving faster on offense than previous seasons under new offensive coordinator Collin Klein.
That was most evident during K-State’s win over Oklahoma last weekend when the Wildcats gained 509 yards on 83 plays. They went up-tempo from the opening kickoff and stayed with a no-huddle approach even as they were trying to protect a lead in the fourth quarter.
It is their new identity.
“The other thing I know helped us in the run game was the amount of tempo that Collin ran and tried to go fast,” Klieman said. “We believed they were going to wait and see what we lined up in, and we caught them a few times. That gave us a free 10 yards or some second-and-shorts simply by going fast.”
Klieman further explained that he cares more about his team’s ability to convert on third down and fourth down than the pace it operates at between plays.
If speeding things up helps K-State move the chains, then he is all for it. That is what leads to more plays, not simply going up-tempo.
“We were able to slow it down when we needed to,” Klieman said. “I think (Klein) had a great plan for when to go fast and when to slow it down. We need to continue to mix that up.”
It will be interesting to see how many points will be scored on Saturday with both K-State and Texas Tech opting for an all-gas, no-brakes approach.
The potential for a shootout is there.
Klieman will take his chances if that’s the type of game it turns out to be.
This story was originally published September 29, 2022 at 12:24 PM with the headline "Why Kansas State isn’t afraid to go up tempo in potential shootout against Texas Tech."