Winning close games is the story of the season for Texas Tech football

Morton, however, responded to the fits and starts with a flurry of completions: to Kelly for 8 yards across midfield on fourth-and-seven, to Kelly down the sideline for 13 – a play that was still under review – and to a sliding Caleb Douglas for 8 and Jordan Brown for 13. Morton's touch pass up the middle to Brown got the Red Raiders inside the 1-yard line with 34 seconds left.

The third false start penalty of the drive brought it back to the 6. After Cyclones safety Malik Verdon blocked a pass into the end zone, Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley put the Red Raiders in a tricky formation. Two tight ends, Morton and Kelly, deployed in a four-man pod on the left side, but Brooks took a direct snap and swept right and into the end zone behind a sustained block from tight end Jalin Conyers.

“It was like an outside zone on the right side,” Brooks said. “He put it in my hands and just went into the end zone at that point. I knew this moment would be special, especially my man Jalin Conyers blocking the rim. I know if we seal that around the edge, that's touchdown.”

Brooks also threw the drive for 16 and 14 yards, beating a defender on the first of the two yards to get the drive going. He finished with 122 yards on 25 attempts, eclipsed 100 yards in every game this season and rushed for at least 95 yards in each of his final 19 games.