Fiesty Red Raiders. LAJ’s Don Williams called it an early night as his story wrote itself. Williams touched on Kliff Kingsbury’s comments after the game:

I’m the son of a Texas high school coach,” Kingsbury said. “Texas high school coaches, probably 90 percent of them run a spread offense. For him to walk in there and say those (things), it definitely rubbed me the wrong way. He’s a prideful guy and he says what’s on his mind, but hasn’t worked out for him.”

While Kingsbury took up the mantle for Texas high school coaches — and spread-offense coaches everywhere — his players gave their most impressive performance since that night 21 months ago in San Diego. Patrick Mahomes II led the offense to 493 yards, and the defense held Arkansas to three second-half points after being tied 21-21 at halftime.

Deep Offensive Talent. LAJ’s Krista Pirtle writes about Texas Tech’s deep offensive talent as the key to a win in Fayetteville:

The responsibility must be evenly placed throughout the offense.

So far, the Red Raiders have successfully managed that weight.

Despite two interceptions, Mahomes finished with 26 completions for 243 yards and a touchdown.

He doesn’t have to throw a pass, praying his receiver catches it.

Mahomes has confidence in whomever he throws it to.

Furthermore, Mahomes’ arm isn’t the only ticket to ride for the Red Raider offense.

Gaining Confidence. DMN’s Chuck Carlton writes that Texas Tech is gaining confidence after last year’s 4-8 season:

“We’ve worked at it,” Kingsbury said. “We’re just through the preseason. We have a long way to go. It’s good to see us progress from Week 1 to now.”

While the defense is still giving up yardage under new coordinator David Gibbs, ranking eighth in the Big 12 in total defense, it allowed Arkansas just three points in the second half.

After wallowing at the bottom of national turnover margin for three years, Tech has forced five more than it has committed. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has picked up where he left off at the end of last season. Tech has scored at least 30 points in six straight games going back to the end of 2014.

Notebook: Johnson Everywhere. LAJ’s Don Williams has a football notebook and it covers Jakeem Grant’s perfect pass to Reginald Davis, how Jah’Shawn Johnson was everywhere in the game and Duane Nellis and Kirby Hocutt after the game celebrating with fans and the players.

Miscellaneous. DMN’s Michael DuPont with some post game quotes as well as some national reaction from the game . . . the DMN ranks their best in Texas college football teams and Texas Tech now ranks 4th in the state . . . the official site has the game notes for the TCU game (PDF) and there’s really not much there that’s changed other than the quarterback position between Davis Webb and Patrick Mahomes no longer has an “or” . . .