The Big 12 championship game was trending towards being the best game of Championship Week before Saturday started. Texas Tech had punched their ticket to the playoff before this game. BYU had everything to play for. Instead of game of the week status, Texas Tech wins the conference in a one-sided affair.
BYU had a promising first quarter touchdown early. The 14-play drive included seven chunk plays including a 19-yard and 22-yard passes from Bear Bachmeier before capping off the drive with a 10-yard LJ Martin rushing touchdown. However, BYU would not see paydirt again in the game.
In the first half Texas Tech would put up 13 points of their own and lead going into halftime 13-7. Their lone first half touchdown came on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Behren Morton to Coy Eakin. While the game still felt within reach for BYU, the second half would be a very different story.
BYU in the second half was somewhere between a comedy of errors and a nightmare they could not wake up from. The Cougars only punted twice in the second half. Every other possession they had in the second half that did not end in a punt, ended in a fumble, interception or a turnover on downs.
To add insult to injury, each of the four second half turnovers were committed with three plays or less run by BYU, adding to the quicksand feeling of the second half. By the end of the game, BYU had only compiled 200 yards of total offense. Texas Tech more than doubled BYU’s rushing output and passed for almost 65% more yardage.
Defensively this game was closer. BYU totaled 74 tackles, two sacks, five tackles for loss and seven pass deflections. A respectable day for the Cougar defense. So respectable in fact, BYU forced Texas Tech to do the one thing they did not want to do. Kick field goals inside the redzone. Or inside the “No Stone Zone” as the Red Raiders like to call it. Stone Harrington is their place kicker. Who finished the day going four of six on field goals. With all of them coming from outside the 20-yard line.
By the end of the game, BYU simply could not overcome four turnovers and an inability to move the ball in the Red Raiders’ territory. With the win, Texas Tech earns a first round bye in the college football playoff. While BYU on the other hand, looks forward to a stressful 24-hours as their playoff fate is in the hands of the playoff selection committee.
Selection Sunday will begin tomorrow (December 7th, 2025) at 3pm ET on ESPN.
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