Throwback Game of the Week: The 2006 Insight Bowl Comeback
To continue our series on Throwback Games this summer, we're going to take a look at the greatest comeback in bowl history.
The Red Raiders were 7-5 going into bowl season, which was a letdown following a 9-2 regular season in 2005. Sophomore Graham Harrell was in his first year as the full time starter, and senior receivers Danny Amendola and Joel Filani were leading the offense.
This bowl win would catapult the Graham Harrell-led Red Raiders into new heights, culminating in the 2008 summit.
This particular game did not start in the Red Raiders favor, with Minnesota scoring the first 28 points of the game. Texas Tech didn't even get on the board until 4:30 minutes left in the second quarter, and wouldn't score again until 5:00 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
At that point, it was 38-14 with Minnesota in the lead. You can join in progress below.
Texas Tech wouldn't score again until the 4th quarter, but would rattle off 31 straight points after being down 38-7 to tie the game on a last-second, 52-yard field goal from Alex Trilica. At this point, the overtime period was just academic. Texas Tech had all the momentum after scoring 24 points in the 4th quarter to tie the game. That was Trilica's first field goal attempt of the game, and his career long was 49 yards. Big time kick.
Minnesota would get the ball first in overtime and get their first points of the game since 7:47 minutes left in the 3rd quarter with an overtime field goal. That made it 41-38, Minnesota.
Texas Tech would get the ball and do Mike Leach things with consecutive throws to the hitch on the sideline inching their way to the first Red Raider lead of the day, by running it two straight times at the goal line. Classic Mike Leach.
This comeback was even better than I remembered: 24 points in the 4th quarter. Completely shutting Minnesota out after 7:47 in the 3rd quarter after giving up 38 points before that. Just an incredible turnaround. At the time, it was the largest bowl game comeback ever, a title the game maintained until TCU came back against Oregon from 31-0 down in the 2016 Alamo Bowl.
As a totally unbiased observer who watched both games, Texas Tech's bowl comeback was better.
- BONUS VIDEO