Highlights: Texas Tech football vs. Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl

The Texas Tech football team will take on Mississippi State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28 in Memphis, Tenn.

In 2021 non-conference play, Texas Tech recorded a 38-21 win over Houston in the Texas Kickoff Sept. 4 to begin the 2021 college football season, and the Red Raiders went on to win their next two games: a 28-22 win against Stephen F. Austin, and a 54-21 win over Florida International.

Although the Red Raiders would go on to defeat West Virginia 23-20 and Kansas 41-14 as the Big 12 slate progressed, a blowout 52-31 Homecoming loss to TCU and a one-point defeat at the hands of Kansas State would ultimately cost Texas Tech head football coach Matt Wells his job after Week 8.

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Texas Tech hired Joey McGuire from Baylor to be the next head football coach of the Red Raiders Nov. 9. The former Bears assistant joined the athletics department immediately, with plans to take charge of the Texas Tech football team at season's end.

Under Sonny Cumbie, Texas Tech would finish the 2021 college football regular season with a 6-6 overall record, including 3-6 in the Big 12, with a 41-38 upset win over Iowa State that gained the Red Raiders bowl eligibility, a 23-0 shutout loss to Oklahoma State, and a 27-24 loss against Baylor in the season finale.

Liberty Bowl: Texas Tech football vs Mississippi State

Mississippi State, the Liberty Bowl opponent Texas Tech will face, finished the 2021 NCAA college football regular season with an overall record of 7-5, including 4-4 in SEC play.

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Liberty Bowl highlights: Texas Tech football vs. Mississippi State

Get highlights from the Liberty Bowl featuring Texas Tech vs. Mississippi State below.

Texas Tech scores first on a 19-yard touchdown run by Tahj Brooks early in the first quarter.

Jonathan Garibay added a 31-yard field goal and the Red Raiders led 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Mississippi State gets on the board with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Will Rogers to Rara Thomas.

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The Will Rogers pass complete to Rara Thomas for 17 yds for a TD

With 31 seconds left in the first half, Austin Williams muffed a punt return and it was recovered by Texas Tech's Tyrique Matthews on the Mississippi State 14-yard line. The Red Raiders settled for a 26-yard Jonathan Garibay field goal and took a 13-7 lead into halftime.

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In the third quarter, Donovan Smith hit Jerand Bradley for a 52-yard reception that came up just short of the end zone. Smith ran it in on the next play from the 1-yard line to give the Red Raiders a 20-7 lead.

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Just before the end of the third quarter, Donovan Smith scrambled to his left and found J.J. Sparkman in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown and a 27-7 lead.

Eric Monroe picks off Will Rogers at the Texas Tech 15 to give the Red Raiders the ball.

The Red Raiders scored the final points of the game on a SaRodorick Thompson 1-yard touchdown run and won 34-7.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Highlights: Texas Tech football vs. Mississippi St. in the Liberty Bowl