Texas Tech dominates BYU: No. 8 Red Raiders suffocate No. 7 Cougars with stifling defense for statement win

On a day where Texas Tech's offense was shaky, the defense owned the day. The Red Raiders didn't create many havoc plays, but were just consistently in the right place against a steady BYU offense. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was the star with 14 total tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and a forced fumble, but it was a total team effort.  

Texas Tech forced BYU to be one-dimensional on offense by completely eliminating the run game. The Cougars had just 67 yards rushing on 2.5 yards per carry as a team. That put the onus on BYU freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier to win with his arm which, as was on display Saturday, he isn't quite ready to do yet. 

He did not reach 200 yards through the air and completed just over 60% of his passes on 38 attempts. He also averaged 4.9 yards per attempt as Texas Tech took the deep ball away. 

It didn't help that Bachmeier rarely had time to sit in the pocket. Tech's defensive front swarmed in the backfield with one sack, four total quarterback pressures and four tackles for loss. 

The Cougars entered Week 11 at 8-0 for the second straight season. Again, the program picked up a critical November loss. This one is more acceptable on the road against a likely College Football Playoff squad, but it leads to a critical stretch of games to end the 2025 season.

A matchup on the road against Cincinnati on Nov. 22 will likely determine their path to the Big 12 Championship Game. Next week against TCU is a tricky battle at LaVell Edwards Stadium. If they can take care of business, another matchup against Texas Tech could wait on the horizon in Arlington.

BYU's defense fought hard for most of the game, but the Cougars must get more from Bear Bachmeier in the passing game down the stretch. While a team entering the Big 12 title game at 11-1 should be in decent shape as an at-large, getting wiped for a second time would be disastrous.  

When Texas Tech put together its major roster investment, the Red Raiders put a target on Arlington, Texas. The program has never played in a Big 12 Championship Game and hasn't won an outright conference championship since 1955. With a win over first-place BYU, that likely changes.

The Red Raiders only have games left against UCF and West Virginia in the final weeks of the year, games they will be favored in by double digits. Assuming it wins out, Texas Tech virtually locks up a spot in the conference title game with a win.

Additionally, after a strong team performance, Texas Tech should move higher up the College Football Playoff Rankings -- and maybe even get into the range of the byes. The anticipation for the matchup in Lubbock was off the charts, with more than 2,000 students camping out for tickets. After the win, the Red Raiders are home free.  

Late 4Q: No. 8 Texas Tech 29, No. 7 BYU 7 

Not that it necessarily needed the insurance, but Texas Tech once again took a turnover and transformed it into points. After the Red Raiders forced BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier to fumble, Texas Tech was able to kick 34-yard field goal to expand its lead. 

Late 4Q: No. 8 Texas Tech 26, No. 7 BYU 7 

BYU, admittedly, didn't have much to play for in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. It's still putting on a clinic in how to not finish a game. After the Cougars were stuffed on fourth-and-8 in their own territory, they got the ball back by forcing Texas Tech into a quick three-and-out. On the ensuing drive, quarterback Bear Bachmeier tried to escape a sack by throwing the ball away. He threw it backwards, it stayed in bounds and star Red Raider linebacker Jacob Rodriguez jumped on the fumble for another turnover forced by Tech's ferocious defense. 

Late 4Q: No. 8 Texas Tech 26, No. 7 BYU 7 

Put this (likely) win on the Texas Tech defense. The Red Raiders have been absolutely dominant all game long. They just made another stop by stuffing BYU on a fourth-and-8 conversion attempt from the Cougars' 34-yard line. If it wasn't already over, it likely is now, as all Texas Tech has to do is take time off the clock to secure its biggest win of the year. 

Mid 4Q: No. 8 Texas Tech 26, No. 7 BYU 7 

Well, at least BYU won't be shutout. The Cougars finished an efficient eight-play, 75-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown connection between quarterback Bear Bachmeier and wide receiver Chase Roberts. That broke an over 50-minute long scoring drought for the Cougars, who had moved the ball into Texas Tech territory just once before their latest scoring drive. 

BYU initially went for two, but its successful conversion was called back due to offensive pass interference. It feels like too little, too late for the Cougars, but at least they were able to get something on the board against a ferocious Texas Tech defense. 

4Q: Texas Tech 26, BYU 0

The Red Raiders kept getting stopped on the edge of the red zone drive after drive. Finally, in the fourth quarter, the stadium got its moment. The Red Raiders capped off a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run from Cam Dickey to finally put the game away. 

The touchdown was only the second of the game for Texas Tech, but came at the perfect time. The margin is now out to four scores with only 10:46 remaining in the game. Start the buses. 

END 3Q: Texas Tech 19, BYU 0

Texas Tech leads a defensive battle against BYU after three quarters, but the No. 8 Red Raiders have struggled to land a final blow. The Red Raiders have settled for four field goals to only one touchdown, including a pair of drives that started deep in Cougars territory after turnovers. 

Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton has been shaky through three quarters, completing only 13 of 25 passes for 180 yards and surrendering four sacks. However, the defense has come to play. Texas Tech has forced four tackles for loss, while linebacker Jacob Rodriguez posted 11 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception. 

The Cougars have put together a few tough drives and extended the clock, but have struggled to adjust to needing to hurry up. True freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier shook off a sack, but short-armed a pass that was intercepted. A muffed punt in the first quarter also set up additional points. The Cougs are averaging only 3.5 yards per play. 

Texas Tech has the ball to start the fourth quarter after a punt and have a chance to put the game away with a touchdown drive. 

3Q: Texas Tech 19, BYU 0

The Red Raiders failed to capitalize on tremendous field position, settling for a field goal after starting at the 22-yard line. Texas Tech traveled only 11 yards on the scoring drive, the second time they've failed to reach the end zone after drives that started within the opposing 30-yard line. 

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has arguably been the best insider linebacker in the nation, and made his presence felt on third down. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier shook off a tackle and short-armed a pass, which Rodriguez tipped and intercepted to put Texas Tech back into the red zone. 

The Red Raiders can put the dagger in here. 

3Q: Texas Tech 16, BYU 0

Texas Tech scored for a fourth time, but another trip into scoring territory ended in a field goal. The Red Raiders have struggled to move the ball in tight spaces, which has left the door open for BYU to get back into the game. The Cougars have overcome two-score leads in two of their last three games. 

After a three-and-out to start the second half, Texas Tech has started opening up the offense. The Red Raiders are stringing together medium-gain plays to hold onto the ball and maneuver down the field. Texas Tech has gone eight plays for 48 yards to get back into scoring position. 

The Cougars needed a breather after giving up several late-half drives, and the defense came through. BYU forced an incompletion off Behren Morton to force a three-and-out and get the ball back barely a minute into the second half. 

Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton has been dealing with a hairline fracture in his fibula, according to the broadcast. Morton missed two games with the injury, though the staff acknowledged that it will primarily come down to pain management. The senior has been visibly frustrated while getting sacked four times in the first half, twice running into defenders. 

HALF: Texas Tech 13, BYU 0

No. 8 Texas Tech is up at the half in a defensive struggle against No. 7 BYU. The Red Raiders have been constantly under pressure from a potent Cougars defense, but a burgeoning running attack has kept them on schedule. 

During a first touchdown drive, running back Cameron Dickey ran the ball six times for 24 yards to set up a 9-yard touchdown connection from Behren Morton to Caleb Douglas. Then, running back J'Koby Williams reeled off a 43-yard run to set up another field goal. 

BYU has stayed on schedule in the running game, but miscues have put them behind the chains. A false start killed one drive near midfield and a muffed punt led to another Texas Tech field goal. 

Dickey and Williams have combined for 100 yards rushing, while Morton has 134 yards and a touchdown through the air. The Cougars have only 106 yards at the half but sacked Morton four times in the period. 

2Q: Texas Tech 13, BYU 0

The Red Raiders capitalized on the long run from Williams and connected on another field goal to push the lead out to 13. 

Texas Tech running back J'Koby Williams has primarily played a supporting role behind Cam Dickey. But on his second carry of the game, Williams powered through the line and broke off a 43-yard run to fire deep into BYU territory. Texas Tech's rushing offense is starting to come alive with 83 combined yards between Dickey and Williams. 

BYU has played a solid game overall, extending each drive to at least five plays. They went nine plays for 42 yards in the second quarter as they leaned on their running game to some success, but a key third down stop from Texas Tech set up a 51-yard field goal that elite kicker Will Ferrin hooked. 

The Cougars are outgaining Texas Tech, match them in first downs and are averaging more yards per play. Still, a few key miscues -- especially on special teams -- have been the difference. 

Late 1Q: Texas Tech 10, BYU 0

No. 8 Texas Tech is starting to find its rhythm at the end of the first quarter against No. 7 BYU. The Red Raiders went -24 yards after its first two drives, only getting on the board because of a muffed punt that turned into a field goal. But on the most recent drive, the Red Raiders drove down the field to set up a nine-yard touchdown grab from Caleb Douglas. 

The Red Raiders drove 92 yards down the field on the most recent drive as they leaned on running back Cam Dickey, handing him the ball six times for 24 yards to drive into the red zone. Quarterback Behren Morton has run into two sacks, but the Red Raiders quickened his reads against a fierce BYU defense. 

The Cougars have been able to run the ball consistently against Texas Tech, reaching 43 yards on nine carries. However, true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier was quickly hurried on all of his four dropbacks, connecting on only 1-of-4 passes. With the Cougars down, more will be put on the arm of Bachmeier over the next three quarters. 

1Q: Texas Tech 3, BYU 0

BYU's defense came to play on the first defensive drive, forcing a false start on the first play and nabbing a sack on an ill-advised decision by Behren Morton. However, a sensational punt was muffed by the Cougars, giving Texas Tech the ball with great field position. 

Morton again ran into a lengthy sack that pushed Texas Tech to the edge of field goal range, but Stone Harrington managed to notch home a 47-yard field goal. Red Raiders strike first. 

BYU got a strong 12-yard rush from running back LJ Martin for a first down, but the passing offense failed to generate much against a stacked Texas Tech pass rush. A shanked punt from Sam Vander Haar traveled only 19 yards giving Texas Tech the ball at the 40-yard line, in great position to put together a drive. 

Texas Tech won the toss in front of a raucous home crowd and deferred to the second half. Now, true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier will try to find opportunities against a loaded Red Raiders defensive line. After a touchback, BYU starts at the 25-yard line. 

Texas Tech

Out: DL Skyler Gill-Howard, WR T.J. West, WR Leyton Stone, WR Roy Alexander, OL Hunter Zambrano

BYU

Out: S Tommy Prassas, RB Sione Moa, CB Marcus McKenzie, DT Anisi Purcell

Texas Tech has become one of the Goliaths of the Big 12 with the growth of its defense, but BYU is one of the few teams that can counter. The Cougars should be able to move the ball with some consistency, and their defense could create problems for a banged-up Texas Tech passing game. Still, the Red Raiders are likely to capitalize on their opportunities. The game should be closer than the massive line suggests, but Texas Tech is expected to emerge victorious. Pick: BYU +10.5

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