No. 5 Red Raiders dominate in Arlington, capturing their first-ever Big 12 championship, locking up a likely College Football Playoff first-round bye, and setting an AP-era milestone with 12 wins by 20+ points.
The victory also delivered an unprecedented historical feat: an AP-era record 12th win by 20+ points (since 1936), cementing the Red Raiders’ campaign as one of the most statistically commanding in modern college football.
Red Raiders Make History in a Breakout Season
Texas Tech (12–1, No. 4 CFP) came into 2025 having invested millions in the transfer portal—and the return on investment has been seismic. After 30 years as a Big 12 member, the Red Raiders finally hoisted their first conference championship trophy, ending decades of near misses and heartbreak.
Quarterback Behren Morton delivered a poised championship performance, throwing two touchdowns to Cody Eakin, while kicker Stone Harrington—already a BYU killer this season—added four field goals. But the night belonged to a defense that tightened its grip as the stakes rose.
Ben Roberts Ignites a Defensive Avalanche
Roberts wasn’t done. He added a spectacular one-handed interception in the fourth quarter—becoming the first player ever with multiple picks in a Big 12 Championship Game—and nearly came away with a third on a later pass breakup.
Fellow linebacker Jacob Rodriguez racked up 13 tackles, while transfer edge rusher Romello Height delivered the night’s key strip-sack, setting up a Harrington 44-yard field goal.
BYU’s Offense Stalls After Strong Opening Drive
BYU (11–2, No. 11 CFP) opened the scoring with a physical 90-yard drive capped by LJ Martin’s 10-yard touchdown run, but their momentum evaporated. After that opening touchdown, the Cougars mustered just 24 yards before halftime and finished with a season-low 200 total yards.
Martin, the Big 12’s rushing leader entering the game, was held to 76 yards on 19 carries—well below his 102.4-yard seasonal average.
With the loss, BYU is expected to fall out of top-12 consideration, eliminating any outside hopes of sneaking into the CFP.
Texas Tech's Offense Delivers the Knockout Moments
Morton’s highlight throw—a 33-yard leaping touchdown to Eakin early in the second quarter—gave Tech a 10–7 lead they never relinquished. Eakin, who scored TDs in each of the Red Raiders’ first three games before cooling off, played his best game in months on the season’s biggest stage.
Harrington, who hit a school-record five field goals against BYU in November, added four more Saturday and narrowly missed a fifth.
The Takeaway
The Cougars’ surprising playoff candidacy evaporated under the weight of persistent Red Raider pressure. Their 200 total yards and 63 rushing yards represented season lows, and Bachmeier’s freshmen miscues proved costly against an elite Power Five defense.
Texas Tech:
A program long defined by offense now boasts the Big 12’s No. 1 defense and No. 1 offense. The 2025 Red Raiders are not only historic—they may be the most balanced team in the College Football Playoff field.
What’s Next
BYU:
Awaiting a bowl destination, likely outside the New Year’s Six lineup.
Texas Tech:
The Red Raiders appear locked into a first-round bye in the new 12-team CFP format. Their next game will likely be a quarterfinal matchup on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1, potentially right back at AT&T Stadium in the Cotton Bowl.
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-- By John James
Bronwyn Stone contributed to this report
© Copyright 2025 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article cannot be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without written permission.
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