It didn’t matter who was asked. Mega booster Cody Campbell, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt, head coach Joey McGuire, or any of the coaches said on the record that if 2025 didn’t end with a Big 12 title, it would be a failure. One might argue it was reckless for a program that has never even appeared in a Big 12 title game to be so bold with its belief. However, week after week, this team dominated to the tune of 11 wins by at least 20 points. On Saturday in Arlington, TX, BYU issued the first punch. But, as has been the case all season, the Texas Tech defense shut down the Cougars and hoisted their first-ever Big 12 championship by a score of 34-7.
Defense Carried The Day
BYU forced the Texas Tech offense to stall on its opening drive. They then marched methodically down the field for a 14-play, 90-yard touchdown drive. With an overwhelming Red Raider crowd in the home of the Cowboys, there was a shot of life injected to the BYU faithful. Some uneasiness seemed to hover around those clad in red. But the scripted drive was the only time that threatened the scoreboard operator on the side of the Cougars. After that 90-yard drive, BYU only had 110 yards of total offense the rest of the game to finish with 200 total for the game. The star of this defense has been linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. He was still a presence on the field with 13 tackles. However, the star of the defense today belonged to linebacker Ben Roberts. He finished the game with two interceptions, two pass deflections, and five tackles.
Much like the first matchup in Lubbock, the pressure from the defense was overwhelming for BYU. If the Cougars stood any chance against Texas Tech, they had to stay committed to LJ Martin and the rushing game. Martin combined for 26 touches for 107 yards, but only had 76 rushing on 19 carries. Without a threat of an explosive rushing game, the pass rush made life miserable for quarterback Bear Bachmeier. While the defense only sacked Bachmeier twice, the pressure on him and the BYU offense resulted in four turnovers. All of them came in the second half of the game.
Offense Sputtering Didn’t Matter In the End
The Red Zone offense continues to frustrate offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich and the Red Raiders. It has become their biggest thorn to overcome. Today, those same woes resurfaced. Texas Tech had five trips into the red zone, with only two of those trips resulting in a touchdown. BYU’s defense deserves a ton of credit for limiting this Texas Tech offense. The Red Raiders were held to 374 total yards of offense. Quarterback Behren Morton was noticeably inaccurate, especially in the first half of the game. Morton finished the game 20-for-33 for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
While Morton did not necessarily play at a level that would have won the game without his defense’s effort, he did not make any critical errors. He did not turn the ball over and did not force any balls into double/triple coverage. The two running backs, Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams, were utilized in a way in which they played only one half of football. Dickey had 18 carries for 72 yards and one touchdown, while Williams had 15 carries for 80 yards. Reggie Virgil led the receiving corps with eight receptions and 86 yards.
Big 12 Title Achieved; What’s Next?
It has been 17 football seasons since Texas Tech would have been considered a team capable of making the Big 12 championship. But since the formation of the Big 12, this program has never been thought of as a team that could actually win the Big 12 title. But in 2025, Texas Tech notched its 12th win by over 20 points for an emphatic point in the history of Red Raider football. It boasts one of the best defensive units in the history of the conference. Texas Tech clinched the Big 12 title and secured a first-round bye. They now await both their quarterfinal opponent and the site and timing of the game. This team will have close to a full month off to get ready for a potential national championship run. Just how high will the greatest team in program history climb?
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