The 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl match-up of the #1 passing attack in the Big Ten in Michigan State vs. the #1 passing offense in the Big 12 in Texas Tech promised some fireworks and the game didn’t disappoint the 64,757 fans that packed the Alamodome.
Texas Tech jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter after Baron Batch rushed for a 3 yard touchdown. Michigan State countered the Red Raiders attacked as Edwin Baker rushed up the middle for 46 yards scoring the Spartans first touchdown of the game and it was Bakers first career touchdown as a Spartan.
The fireworks continued to go off in the second quarter as Texas Tech scored three times, two field goals and a Taylor Potts touchdown toss to Lyle Leong. Michigan State scored on a 48 yard bomb from Kirk Cousins to Keshawn Martin. Michigan State trailed 20-14 at halftime.
Early in the third, Cousins rushed up the middle on the quarterback draw pushing Michigan State into the lead 21-20. The back-and-forth battle continued as the Red Raiders responded with a touchdown as Potts hit Jacoby Franks for a 14 yard touchdown bringing the score to 27-21. Late in the quarter, in the wildcat formation, Keshawn Martin dumped one over the middle to wide receiver Blair White for an 8 yard touchdown giving the Spartans the lead.
Michigan State took a 28-27 lead into the fourth quarter, and appeared to get a break when Tech quarterback Taylor Potts left the game after injuring his non-throwing hand. He left with an Alamo Bowl-record 372 yards and two touchdowns.
With Tech down 31-27, Sheffield marched the Red Raiders downfield in eight plays, the last an 11-yard touchdown pass to Detron Lewis taking the lead 34-31. Baron Batch tacked on a 25-yard touchdown run late in the game to seal the victory.
FILL THE BOWL
The 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl crowd of 64,757 is the sixth largest in Valero Alamo Bowl history and is the third sellout in the last four bowl games.
ALL-TIME ALAMO BOWL ATTENDANCE FIGURES
- 66,166 – Penn State vs. Texas A&M (12/29/07)
- 65,875 – #18 Texas vs. Iowa (12/30/06)
- 65,380 – #13 Penn State 24, #18 Texas A&M 0 (12/28/99)
- 65,265 – #22 Ohio State 33, Oklahoma State 7 (12/29/04)
- 65,232 – Iowa 19, Texas Tech 16 (12/29/01)
- 64,757 – Michigan State vs. Texas Tech (1/2/2010)
- 64,597 – #19 Texas A&M 22, #14 Michigan 20 (12/28/95)
- 62,016 – Nebraska 32, #20 Michigan 28 (12/28/05)
- 60,780 – Purdue 37, #4 Kansas State 34 (12/29/98)
- 60,028 – #8 Nebraska 66, #19 Northwestern 17 (12/30/00)
- 56,229 – #21 Nebraska 17, Michigan State 3 (12/29/03)
- 55,986 – #23 Missouri 30, #20 Northwestern 23 (12/29/09)
- 55,677 – #21 Iowa 27, Texas Tech 0 (12/29/96)
- 55,552 – #16 Purdue 33, #24 Oklahoma State 20 (12/30/97)
- 50,690 – Wisconsin 31, No. 14 Colorado 28 (OT) (12/28/02)
- 45,716 – California 37, Iowa 3 (12/31/93)
- 44,106 – #24 Washington State 10, Baylor 3 (12/31/94)
OFFENSIVE MVP
Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts finished with an Alamo Bowl record 372 yards passing and two touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE MVP
Texas Tech defensive back Jamar Wall had four tackles and one interception.
FRED JACOBY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Michigan State defensive back Ross Weaver finished the night with 3 tackles.
PASSING INTO FIRST
Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts set an Alamo Bowl single-game record with 372 passing yards, breaking the record on Purdue’s Billy Dicken in 1997. Despite missing two-plus games due to injury, Potts also moved into 9th place on Tech’s all-time list for passing yardage in a single season.
FORGET THE ALAMO
Teams from Michigan are 0-4 in the Alamo Bowl. Michigan lost to Texas A&M in 1995 and Nebraska in 2005. Michigan State lost to Nebraska in 2003 in addition to its loss to Texas Tech this year.
TRIPLE THE PLEASURE
Texas Tech finishes the season with three consecutive victories for the first time since 1995.
STINGY SPARTANS
Michigan State held the Texas Tech defense sackless for only the second time all season. The Red Raiders rank fourth nationally with 39 quarterback sacks behind only Pittsburg, Nebraska and Rutgers, respectively.
CLOSE CALL
Texas Tech’s 41-31 win against Michigan State is the fifth consecutive Valero Alamo Bowls to be decided in the final two minutes of play.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Michigan State running back Edwin Baker’s 46-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was the freshman back’s first touchdown this season. The run is also the fifth longest in Valero Alamo Bowl history.
KICKIN’ IT
Texas Tech kicker Matt Williams tied the Valero Alamo Bowl for most field goals in a quarter with field goals of 38 and 21 yards in the second quarter.
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK
The 2010 Valero Alamo Bowls marks the first time Michigan State has lost this season when leading in time of possession. The Spartans are now 5-1 in 2009 and 15-4 under Coach Mark Dantonio when leading in time of possession.
BIG PLAYS
The 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl was once again highlighted by big plays as Texas Tech and Michigan State combined for four plays of more than 40 yards.
FIRST AND TEN
Texas Tech broke the Valero Alamo Bowl record for most first downs with 31 against Michigan State. The previous record of 28 was held by Nebraska (2000) and California (1993). Tech also broke the record for most first downs passing.