DALLAS - After being the last team to pop pads in Texas Stadium's history, Texas Tech participated in the final Cotton Bowl Classic Friday. The Red Raiders practiced for the bowl game at the soon-to-be former home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Red Raiders coach Mike Leach noted his team's close-out ability and said, “It means if you want to close a stadium, get the Red Raiders in here and they’ll get it done for you, you know?”

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Unfortunately, Ole Miss turned out the lights on Texas Tech. After 73 games played in the Cotton Bowl stadium located at Fair Park, the Rebels' 47-34 victory was complete and convincing. The combined points (81) set a Cotton Bowl record and that number might have equalled the number of tackles missed by the Red Raiders.

"They played in a fashion that we take a lot of pride in," Leach said of the Rebels (9-4). "They just did their jobs over and over again. We missed a lot of tackles and that's the ultimate thing you do on defense."

Rebels fans lustily chanted "S-E-C" as the game clock ticked toward triple zeroes. Round One of the debate over conference superiority and offense vs. defense went to Ole Miss and the Southeastern Conference. Oklahoma gets a chance for rebuttal next Thursday when it faces Florida in the BCS National Championship game.

Texas Tech (11-2) grabbed a 14-0 lead despite running just seven offensive plays in the first six minutes. After that, the momentum, total yards and time of possession flowed toward Ole Miss. The Rebels' 38-7 scoring run in a time span of 24:54 from near the end of the first quarter to the 6:55 mark of the third quarter sealed the deal and denied the Red Raiders a 12-win season and their first Cotton Bowl victory.

"We had a sloppy third quarter and let things get away from us," said Texas Tech senior quarterback Graham Harrell, who closed out his career completing 36 of 58 passes for a Cotton Bowl-record 364 yards and four touchdowns.

It got messy on Texas Tech's first possession of the second half. Trailing 24-21, the Red Raiders had a second-and-10 from its 45. Harrell threw toward Michael Crabtree, who slipped and fell. Defensive back Marshay Green became the unintended receiver and returned the interception 65 yards for a touchdown and a 31-21 lead.

After the Red Raiders went three-and-out, Green struck again but his 63-yard punt return for a touchdown became a 54-yard return when an instant replay review showed that he stepped out of bounds at the Texas Tech nine.

Ole Miss went from a touchdown to a 30-yard field goal attempt that went wide right.

Desperately seeking momentum, Texas Tech went all in when its next possession produced a fourth-and-four from its 37. Harrell went under center (unusual) and attempted a quarterback sneak (unbelievable). Harrell gained three yards.

A quarterback sneak on fourth and four? Wasn't the coaching Nutt (Houston) on the Ole Miss sideline? Turns out it was another in a series of misfortunes the Red Raiders.

"We weren't on the same page," Leach said of his quarterback. "He wanted one thing and I wanted something else. It was a bonehead play on both of our parts."

Turns out Leach wanted Harrell to try and draw Ole Miss offside with a hard count. Harrell audibled. "I got under center and saw a big gap (to the left)," Harrell said. "I tapped (center Stephen) Hamby on the butt and we went for it."

Ole Miss took over on the 40-yard and line. The third of three running plays produced a touchdown and a 38-21 lead.

Texas Tech has overcome bowl-game deficits but this 17-point hole was too deep. The Rebels blitzed from all angles, tackled with certainty and covered receivers like gravy covers biscuits.

"I'm just really proud of our defense," Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said. "Our defense sotpped 'em, stopped 'em, time and time again."

Texas Tech finished with 469 total yards and averaged 6.5 yards per play. Harrell's longest completion was his first TD pass, 35 yards to Edward Britton.

The Rebels dominated time of possession (35:14 to 24:46) with a balanced attack (223 yards rushing, 292 yards passing) and eight-of-14 efficiency on third down. Sophomore quarterback Jevan Snead, who started his career at Texas before transferring, completed 18 of 29 passes with three touchdowns.

Ole Miss scored its second touchdown when Snead threw deep into double coverage. Mike Wallace came up with a 41-yard scoring catch when Texas Tech backup safety Jordy Rowland got turned around and failed to knock down or intercept the pass. Rowland was in for starter Darcel McBath, who had suffered a hamstring injury.

The first half ended with Harrell scrambling for a career-long 44-yard gain. The play started with 10 seconds remaining and the Red Raiders having a timeout. The clock ran out as Harrell was tripped up by the Rebels' Kendrick Lewis at the Ole Miss 3-yard line.

“You never like to lose your last," Harrell said. "All losses hurt, and this one was no different. It wasn’t the way we wanted to end the season, but it’s the way it happened.”