Instant takeaways from No. 11 BYU’s blowout Big 12 Championship loss to No. 4 Texas Tech
Dec 6, 2025, 2:05 PM | Updated: 2:09 pm
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 06: Bear Bachmeier #47 of the BYU Cougars recovers a bad snap against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second quarter in the 2025 Edward Jones Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, Texas – BYU football was crushed by Texas Tech once again. This time, it was in the Big 12 Football Championship Game in front of a sold-out crowd that was around 70% Texas Tech fans.
BYU put up a fight early, but it wasn’t enough to hang with the Red Raiders, who won their first outright conference championship in 70 years.
Here are instant BYU football takeaways from the 34-7 loss to Texas Tech.
BYU validated the College Football Playoff’s disrespect
Look, an 11-1 team in a power conference should be a lock for the College Football Playoff. Clearly, the Playoff Committee thought otherwise, and that was terrible that BYU was held to a different standard than most power conference teams.
However, BYU didn’t do anything on Saturday to dispel the disrespect narrative. BYU doesn’t have to sweat out Selection Sunday; they aren’t going to the Playoff, they will be going to a bowl game. Unlike last year, it might not be as easy to get the motivation for that game after this performance in Arlington.
BYU’s offense wasn’t looking for pass attempts down the field
BYU’s offensive strategy was clearly centered on getting the ball out quickly to combat Texas Tech’s speed on defense. However, the lack of attempts down the field was glaring.
Bear Bachmeier took a massive hit from Texas Tech linebacker Ben Roberts in the first quarter, which appeared to shake him up. Still, BYU did not flinch and continued forward with Bachmeier. Yet there was little to no action down the field.
BYU opened the fourth quarter with a deep shot down the field to Chase Roberts that resulted in a pass interference on Texas Tech. Then, the brief momentum in the fourth quarter from that penalty pickup was taken away by a fumble from Bear Bachmeier after a fake handoff to LJ Martin.
Another tough outing for Bear Bachmeier, the BYU offense against Texas Tech
It feels like a distant memory, but BYU opened the game with a 14-play, 90-yard drive that ate up 6:50 of game action. After that, the offense was brought to a standstill.
Bear Bachmeier, the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, has been brilliant this season. However, the one team that he didn’t come close to figuring out was Texas Tech.
All three of BYU’s turnovers involved Bachmeier, with two interceptions and a fumble. The freshman signal-caller looked banged up after the first drive of the game.
While reaching the Big 12 Championship Game in Bachmeier’s first season as the starter is an excellent accomplishment. There’s still a lot of room to grow for the freshman star, because Texas Tech isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
BYU’s offensive line struggled
Whether it was false start penalties on third down or letting Texas Tech get in the backfield in the blink of an eye, it was a difficult day in Arlington for the BYU offensive line.
The highlight that embodies the struggles is the fourth-quarter fumble forced by Tech’s AJ Holmes, blowing up the middle of the BYU offensive line, which led to a Bear fumble. That fumble recovery by Tech then set up a field goal to make it a three-score game.
Texas Tech lived in BYU territory
The Red Raiders lived on BYU’s side of the field throughout the day. Tech’s first seven drives of the game concluded in BYU territory. They also had six drives start in BYU territory.
In a battle of field position, BYU clearly lost.
Meanwhile, only two of BYU’s drives before the game broke loose in favor of Texas Tech in the fourth ended in Tech territory.
Horrible second half from BYU football
BYU had a six-drive stretch that saw drives finish with an interception, a punt, a fumble, an interception, a turnover on downs, and a fumble.
That stretch put BYU at minus-four in the turnover margin. Meanwhile, Tech didn’t cough up the ball once to BYU.
