Texas Tech is gearing up to face Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl on Friday night, and just before the game, it was announced that the Red Raiders’ offense would be without one of its most important players.
Senior running back Tahj Brooks was 50/50 to appear tonight versus the Razorbacks, but according to the Texas Tech football Twitter account, the Red Raiders’ all-time leading rusher will not be suited up for what would’ve been his final game as a member of the program.
On Thursday, Joey McGuire provided an update on whether Brooks would play in the game, saying he was 50/50 after traveling to Memphis and practicing every day with the team.
Brooks is closing out his fifth year of playing in Lubbock and this would be his last game before the 2025 NFL Draft.
Related: 2024 Liberty Bowl: Top Predictions, Odds, and How to Watch Texas Tech vs. Arkansas
Brooks was a Second-Team All-Big 12 Football selection in 2024. Brooks finished the 2024 college football season with 286 carries for 1,505 yards, and a career-high 17 touchdowns. Brooks finished 3rd in the Big 12 in rushing yards behind Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo and UCF’s RJ Harvey.
But because Brooks only played in 11 games due to missing the Washington State game, he led the Big 12 in rushing yards per game at 136.8. He was also third in the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns, also trailing Harvey and Skattebo.
The 2024 Liberty Bowl kicks off on Friday, December 27th at 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN.
