ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Tech spent heavily to build a contender through the transfer portal, and the investment is paying off in historic fashion.
The fifth-ranked Red Raiders dominated No. 11 BYU 34–7 in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday at AT&T Stadium, earning the program’s first conference crown and virtually locking up a spot in the College Football Playoff — likely with a first-round bye.
“We said if we were going to spend, we might as well build the best roster in the country,” linebacker Jacob Rodriguez said after the win.
Head coach Joey McGuire didn’t hide his confidence about what comes next.
“We’re expecting that bye,” McGuire said. “Now we just sit back and see where the committee puts us.”
Defense Dominates Behind Rodriguez and Roberts
Rodriguez finished with 13 tackles, and fellow linebacker Ben Roberts delivered two crucial second-half interceptions as Texas Tech overwhelmed a BYU offense that was limited to just 200 total yards, its worst output of the season.
Roberts briefly left the game early after appearing to injure his abdomen, but returned at halftime and immediately changed the game.
“They loosened it up, heated it up, and he goes out there and grabs two picks,” McGuire said. “Unbelievable.”
Roberts said he strained something while fully extending for a tackle.
“I just stretched it out and tried to keep moving,” he said. “The trainers got me right.”
Big Plays Spark the Red Raiders
Quarterback Behren Morton, making his 35th career start, threw scoring passes to Coy Eakin from 33 and 28 yards. Kicker Stone Harrington added four field goals, including a 2nd-quarter kick that gave Tech the lead for good at 10–7.
Eakin’s first touchdown was the highlight of the night — a soaring, twisting grab in the corner of the end zone where he somehow got a foot down before landing out of bounds. His second score came after a BYU fumble, sealing the win early in the fourth quarter.
BYU Scores Early, Then Gets Shut Down
BYU had a promising opening drive, marching 90 yards in 14 plays for a touchdown run by LJ Martin. After that, the Cougars gained only 134 yards the rest of the game.
It was the second time this season BYU was overwhelmed by Tech; the Cougars also lost 29–7 in Lubbock in November.
“You can’t make the mistakes we did,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “I’ve said it before — Texas Tech is the best team in the country. I’m saying it again. Best team in the country. We just had to play them twice.”
BYU entered the weekend at No. 11 in the CFP rankings and likely needed to break into the top ten for a playoff spot — a scenario that now won’t happen.
Quick Hits
Fast start: BYU scored on its first drive, but had only 24 yards the rest of the half.
History: Roberts is the first player ever with multiple interceptions in a Big 12 Championship Game.
BYU star slowed: Martin, the conference’s leading rusher, finished with 76 yards on 19 carries.
Tech legacy: Texas Tech is one of six schools that has participated in all 30 seasons of the Big 12.
What’s Next:
BYU will learn its bowl destination Sunday. The Cougars have reached a bowl in 19 of the last 21 years.
Texas Tech now waits on the playoff bracket. Because the Red Raiders are in position for a bye, they won’t host a first-round game, but could land in one of the four CFP quarterfinals on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1. One of those games — the Cotton Bowl — is right back at AT&T Stadium on New Year’s Eve.
