As one of the most gifted quarterbacks of his generation, Patrick Mahomes’ college career at Texas Tech served as an early showcase for the brilliance he would later bring to the NFL. From 2014 to 2016, the Tyler, Texas native lit up scoreboards for the Red Raiders, shattering records and redefining what offensive production looked like in the Big 12. Though Texas Tech never reached national prominence during his tenure, Mahomes’ individual numbers remain some of the most jaw-dropping in college football history.
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Freshman Season (2014)
Patrick Mahomes arrived at Texas Tech as a three-star recruit out of Whitehouse High School, where he’d thrown for 4,619 yards and 50 touchdowns as a senior. He entered his first college season as Davis Webb’s backup, but it didn’t take long for his talent to force its way into the lineup.
Mahomes made his debut late in the 2014 season and quickly showcased his potential. In his final three starts, he exploded for four-touchdown outings against both Oklahoma and Iowa State before closing the season with a 598-yard, six-touchdown performance against Baylor. This was an early sign of what was to come.
By the end of his freshman campaign, Mahomes had thrown for 1,547 yards and 16 touchdowns, adding 104 rushing yards but also four interceptions. Texas Tech went just 1-3 in his starts, but the stage was set for a massive breakout in year 2.
Sophomore Season (2015)
With a full year of experience under his belt, Mahomes took complete control of Kliff Kingsbury’s offense in 2015, and the results were spectacular. He eclipsed 350 passing yards in 10 games and went over 400 yards three times, becoming the Big 12’s most prolific passer.
Mahomes led the conference in virtually every major passing category: completions (364), attempts (573), passing yards (4,653), passing touchdowns (36), and interceptions (15). He also showed improved mobility, running for 456 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He was the ultimate gun-slinger with the yards, TDs, and INTs to show for it.
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Under Mahomes’ direction, the Red Raiders finished 7-6 overall (4-5 in conference), earning a bowl appearance. While Texas Tech’s defense often couldn’t match the offense’s output, Mahomes firmly established himself as one of college football’s most electrifying players.
Junior Season (2016)
Ahead of his junior year, Mahomes gave up baseball to focus solely on football, a decision that paid immediate dividends. The 2016 season saw him post video game-like numbers on a weekly basis. Like actual stats you see out of the NCAA football game.
Mahomes opened the year with a 540-yard, five-touchdown performance against Arizona State and went on to record four 500-yard passing games. His efforts against Louisiana Tech (470 passing yards, five TDs), Kansas State (504 passing yards, two passing and three rushing TDs), and Baylor (586 passing yards, six TDs) were breathtaking.
However, his most legendary outing came against Oklahoma on October 22, 2016. Facing Baker Mayfield and the Sooners, Mahomes shattered NCAA records with 734 passing yards and 819 total yards of offense. He completed 52 of 88 passes, both marks among the best single-game totals in college football history.
By season’s end, Mahomes led the nation in:
- Passing yards per game (421.0)
- Total offense (5,312 yards)
- Passing yards (5,052)
- Points responsible for (318)
- Total touchdowns (53)
Although Texas Tech finished just 5-7 overall (3-6 in Big 12 play), Mahomes’ dominance earned him the Sammy Baugh Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top passer. This might’ve been one of the craziest statistical seasons that ultimately never ended up in anything for team success. There are good years that get brushed under the rug and have underperforming seasons records-wise, then there’s this. The fact that Texas Tech couldn’t even get to a .500 record should be a case study one day.
Patrick Mahomes College Career Summary
Over three seasons at Texas Tech, Patrick Mahomes threw for 11,252 yards and 93 touchdowns, while rushing for 845 yards and 22 more scores, against 29 interceptions. His record as a starter was 13-16, highlighted by a 7-6 sophomore campaign that marked his only winning season in Lubbock. Despite the team’s struggles, Mahomes’ production was unmatched; he averaged 351.6 passing yards per game for his career and ranked among the top five all-time in total offense per game (377.3). Never won a conference title or big-time award, like the Heisman, mainly due to the team’s record. Somehow, it seemed like Mahomes was flying under the radar his entire college career.
Legacy and Records
Despite playing just three seasons, and for a Texas Tech program that struggled defensively, Mahomes left behind a statistical legacy few have ever matched. Among his most impressive records and rankings:
- NCAA single-game total offense record: 819 yards vs. Oklahoma (2016)
- NCAA single-game passing yards: 734 vs. Oklahoma (2016)
- Most plays in a game: 100 vs. Oklahoma (2016)
- Career passing yards per game: 351.6 (3rd all-time)
- 2015 & 2016 FBS leader in total offense
- Career total offense per game: 377.3 yards (4th all-time)
Declaring for the NFL Draft
After his record-breaking junior season, Mahomes declared for the 2017 NFL Draft, foregoing his final year of eligibility. Even in draft circles, it didn’t seem like he was talked about nearly enough without much chatter for being a top 5 pick. The talks came later in the process, with rumblings that he might sneak into the first round, but then he went 10th overall to the Chiefs. Kansas City’s best-kept secret.
While Texas Tech’s win-loss record never reflected his dominance, Mahomes’ college career remains one of the most prolific offensive showcases in NCAA history, the perfect prelude to the superstar career he’d go on to build with the Kansas City Chiefs.
