Winning a game happens in three phases. Trust me, after Wyoming I will never take for granted the importance of field goals being made. But that phrase highlights something more that Texas Tech fans may occasionally overlook. Football games are not just won by big plays, they are won with the little things. They get won by managing penalties, being sound fundamentally, and just doing the basics right.

This means subbing effectively, even on punting or kicking scenarios. This means watching the dang ball on D to not jump offside. All these little details can decide what will be a highly competitive Big 12 this year.

Texas Tech has a favorable schedule, but the fastest way to throw the season away would be forgetting to win in the margins. I want to bring this up with two days to go, with the excitement building to a fever pitch, as a reminder that how Coach Joey McGuire can save Texas Tech football is not all recruiting or calling plays or whatever. It is drilling discipline and competence in the program from top to bottom in every facet of the game.