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Best and worst of 2012: Texas Tech

Time to continue our series on the best and worst moments of 2012 for each team in the Big 12. Next up: Texas Tech.

Worst moment: Big 12 champions? I think not

Texas Tech traveled to Manhattan, Kan., with high, high hopes at 6-1. The Red Raiders controlled their own fate with the only loss of the season coming to fellow one-loss squad Oklahoma. Seth Doege was red hot and traveled to face Heisman front-runner Collin Klein. A win would make Texas Tech the likely favorite in the Big 12 race and inject Doege into the Heisman race. Tech trailed by just three at half, but gave up two quick touchdowns in the third quarter to key an eventual 55-24 rout thanks to the eventual Big 12 champions. There was no doubt on this day who would control the Big 12 in 2012, and who deserved a spot at the Heisman table.

Best moment: Red Raiders run rampant on Big 12 beginners

Texas Tech rolled through its nonconference slate and opened up Big 12 play with a gutsy win on the road against Iowa State. A three-touchdown loss to Oklahoma was disheartening, but a week later, West Virginia injected a whole lot of belief into the Red Raiders. Tech hosted the nation's No. 5 team and Heisman front-runner Geno Smith, but ran the show from start to finish, knocking off the undefeated Mountaineers 49-14. Tight end Jace Amaro got the party started with a 39-yard touchdown catch, but Tech ran away with a 35-7 halftime lead and never let WVU get close. The triple-overtime win the next week at TCU is almost No. 1 on this list, but when people look back on the 2012 season, this is the Tech win they'll remember most. With the win, Tommy Tuberville improved to an amazing 6-2 versus top-five teams.