Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

AUSTIN, Texas -- Mike Leach's challenge tonight appears relatively simple.

The Texas Tech coach simply needs to get his team to play like it did last year in Lubbock in its 39-33 victory over the Longhorns.

It was a game that was so different than most Tech games Leach has coached against the Longhorns. His team took advantage of big plays and a punishing running game to claim a 19-0 lead. They then held on for dear life, getting a huge play from Michael Crabtree on the final play of the game to win.

Despite yielding 33 points last season, the Red Raiders' defense played much better against Texas than before. The Red Raiders have developed depth in the trenches, which has been a significant problem in previous games against the Longhorns.

In the last four seasons before 2008, the Longhorns never averaged fewer than 4.6 yards per carry against the Red Raiders as Texas has piled up an average of 266.5 yards per game. That has enabled them to dictate the tempo of the game, no matter how many yards Leach has been able to roll up with his passing game.

The Texas-Texas Tech games in 2006 and 2007 really encapsulated the Red Raiders' defensive challenges against the Longhorns. Texas converted 17 of 27 third downs against Texas Tech and went a perfect 5-for-5 on fourth-down plays. In essence, the Red Raiders produced five true stops against Texas in those two games.

Texas fell behind early and only produced 80 rushing yards in Lubbock last season. Texas Tech controlled the ball for nearly 37 minutes.

Things were different, but that game was played in Lubbock.

The Longhorns have averaged 49 points per game in four victories over Leach in Austin.

His team's challenge will be much greater this season.

Especially considering the Red Raiders have averaged 46 rushing yards in the first two games. And that's been against North Dakota and Rice.

It will be much more difficult to run the ball and follow the plan that was so successful last season.