There was no searching for words when Kalani Sitake sat down for his postgame press conference. No anger. No blame. Only one conviction that he repeated with the steadiness of someone convinced of its truth.
“Congratulations to Texas Tech and the coaches, the players, and their fans. Well deserved Big 12 championship. I think you cannot make a lot of mistakes like we did. I have said it before. I think they are the best team in the country and I am confirming it. They are the best team in the country.”
BYU’s 34-7 loss carried a sting because it felt so different from the first meeting. Sitake believed his team started fast. They led early. They matched physicality. They walked into halftime trailing only 13-7 with belief.
Then things started to unravel. “We were competitive and we were in it and then the turnovers started happening towards the end. And then it just got away from us.”
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Quarterback Bear Bachmeier fought through a lower leg injury from the first drive. Sitake refused to let that become the storyline.
“That is not the reason we lost. He is going to be hurting a lot more tomorrow, but it was not just Bear. We made a lot of mistakes. They forced fumbles and had a couple interceptions and I think that was the difference.”
Texas Tech overwhelmed BYU with a complete performance. “They just squeeze it out of you. That is what championship teams do.”
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Sitake credited his defense for fighting through short fields. And he circled back again to Texas Tech’s stature.
“This is a really really good team. They are the best team in the country. I wish more people would be saying that.”
Then came the playoff question, one he answered with honesty and a hint of frustration.
“Who has played the best team in the country twice. We have. Does that mean you are not one of the best twelve. I have no idea. I am not in that committee. I just hope they make it fair. At least put us in the graphic.”
For Sitake, the loss did not close the book. It only sharpened the desire. “I’d love to have a third chance at them.”
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