Kansas State reversed a recent trend of close losses with a 30-27 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday night in Lubbock, Texas.

The Wildcats, who had lost their previous two games by a combined seven points, instead eliminated the Red Raiders from bowl eligibility in this one.

Quarterback Skylar Thompson had an efficient night for Kansas State (7-4, 4-4 Big 12), going 14 of 28 for 246 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Jett Duffey had more impressive stats for Texas Tech (4-7, 2-6 Big 12). He threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns, but two interceptions, including one in the end zone in the fourth quarter, were costly.

The second half saw the offensive explosion that was expected, but not seen, in a first half that ended with Kansas State up 6-3. The Wildcats marched 75 yards on nine plays to start the half, capped by a Thompson-to-Phillip Brooks 14-yard touchdown pass.

Texas Tech responded with its own 75-yard touchdown drive, using 12 plays. SaRodorick Thompson scored on a 5-yard run.

Joshua Youngblood returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards as Kansas State regained the 10-point lead, 20-10.

Duffey then connected on a 21-yard strike to Erik Ezukanma for the fourth touchdown in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter.

A Blake Lynch 43-yard field goal pushed the lead to 23-17, but Trey Wolff's 27-yard field goal trimmed Kansas State's lead to 23-20 early in the fourth quarter.

After an exchange of punts, Kansas State had a Tech-like drive when Thompson hit Chabastin Taylor for a 48-yard touchdown to cap a two-play, 85-yard drive. The drive started with a 15-yard penalty on Tech followed by two big gains.

Tech drew to within 30-27 when Duffey hit RJ Turner on a 58-yard touchdown on fourth-and-8 with 3:58 left.

The first half saw mostly sputtering offenses. Texas Tech came into the game averaging 470.9 yards (16th in FBS) and 31.5 points per game. But the Red Raiders amassed just 180 yards, including just 91 passing yards, by halftime.

But the only points of the half were a pair of field goals by Lynch and one by Wolff.

--Field Level Media