The eyes of the nation will peek in at BYU and Texas Tech on Saturday. What they should see is a pair of top-10 heavyweights wrestling each other to the turf.
What they’ll actually get, who knows?
No. 7-ranked BYU must go 3-1 to ensure a Big 12 championship game appearance in Arlington, and that campaign begins Saturday in Lubbock against No. 8-ranked Texas Tech in Jones AT&T Stadium.
The Red Raiders are favored by 10 points over the Cougars and they’ll be protecting their home turf while fighting for that same Big 12 title game.
The Cougars and Raiders are among six teams in FBS with a top-20 scoring offense and scoring defense. BYU ranks No. 19 in scoring with a 36.3 average and is No. 16 in scoring defense at 17.0 points allowed per game. Texas Tech ranks No. 3 in scoring offense at 43.6 points and is No. 5 in scoring defense at 13.2 points per game.
The team that wins this will need to control two key elements: physicality and turnovers.
Both have proven to excel in these areas. BYU has the edge in turnover margin, ranked No. 3 in the country; Tech is 13th.
But this physicality deal is real.
Texas Tech is used to imposing its will on teams and jumping out to early leads. BYU tends to start slow and then physically wear down opponents, especially in the fourth quarter.
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) jumps over Utah defensive tackle Pupu Sepulona (45) and Utah cornerback Elijah Davis (9) during a run into the endzone for a rushing touchdown as BYU and Utah play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
BYU running back LJ Martin (4) makes a cut as he runs as BYU and Utah play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa (57) calls for cheers from the fans as BYU and Utah play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
BYU students cheer as BYU and Utah play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Houston, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Houston. | Karen Warren, Associated Press 
Texas Tech defensive lineman Ansel Nedore, front right, sacks Oklahoma State quarterback Noah Walters, left, during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. | Chase Seabolt, Associated Press 
Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire stands on the sideline during an NCAA football game between the University of Utah Utes and the Texas Tech University Red Raiders held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Texas Tech Red Raiders recover a fumble during an NCAA football game against the University of Utah Utes held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake reacts after a BYU interception against Iowa State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. | AP
The Cougars cannot afford to start from behind, as they did at the Iowa State and Arizona road games. When they face Texas Tech on the field, it will be a donnybrook from the opening kickoff.
Speaking to the Big 12 football studio podcast this week, Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire put it this way: “We’ve got to be extremely physical. This is a big-boy game. This is going to be who wants to play football the most. BYU’s extremely physical and they’re taking the ball away at a high rate. They are a plus-10 on the year in turnover margin and we’re a plus-eight. It’s one of the oldest stats in football, whoever wins the turnover battle.
“It’s going to be a fight for all four quarters and we have to be willing to be the first to fight. I tell our guys we’re first to fight and be the last one standing.”
The Cougars are going to have to find a way to draw Tech’s safeties into the box to stop the run, then use play-action to set up some passes. They’ll try to do this against the No. 1 rushing defense in the country.
To date, BYU has been able to do this because of outstanding offensive line play and the use of the legs of LJ Martin and Bear Bachmeier. You will know very early in this game if BYU will be able to pull off this formula.
Texas Tech wants to stop the run and force the pass, and then use the best defensive end in the country, David Bailey (11.4 sacks), to put pressure on Bachmeier and force him to make mistakes, even fumble or throw interceptions.
The Raiders feature the national leader in forced fumbles, a peanut-poking linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (seven forced fumbles). Martin, Bachmeier and receivers Parker Kingston, Chase Roberts and JoJo Phillips will need to have keen ball protection when he’s around.
Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) intercepts a pass intended for Utah tight end Dallen Bentley (88) during game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
This is the biggest game on TT’s field since the clash with Texas in 2008. That was the year the Raiders last hosted “College GameDay,” and now it’s back with the chore of taking on undefeated BYU, 8-0.
This will be the best team, the best defense and most explosive offense BYU has faced this season — or since facing No. 13-ranked Utah, and won.
But this time, it won’t be in Provo.
The Cougars have yet to play a full clean game this season, or since the Portland State game in Provo over a weak FCS opponent. Head coach Kalani Sitake, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and defensive coordinator Jay Hill will need to get the best execution possible out of their team that’s had two weeks to rest and prepare.
Cougars on the air
No. 7 BYU (8-0, 5-0) at No. 8 Texas Tech (8-1, 5-1)
Saturday, 10 a.m. MSTAt Jones AT&T StadiumTV: ABCRadio: 102.7 FM/1160 AM
On the other hand, TT has played six-straight games and will either be finely tuned or in a little need of a rest entering this game.
The rest gave BYU a chance to get back Martin, linebackers Siale Esera, Jack Kelly and safety Raider Damuni, along with receiver Phillips.
By playing six-straight games, TT quarterback Behren Morton, who has missed several games, including the team’s only loss at ASU, has not had as much time to heal up.
A big question: Does a rested-up BYU and Jay Hill defense with two weeks to prepare have an edge on a TT team that comes in without a week off to heal up — if this is indeed a physical contest of bodies on bodies?
It should be a classic.
This week’s predictionsIndiana 42, Penn State 21Georgia 28, Mississippi State 21West Virginia 31, Colorado 17Ohio State 37, Purdue 14Texas A&M 33, Missouri 21Oregon 27, Iowa 24Miami 28, Syracuse 21Arizona 34, Kansas 27TCU 34, Iowa State 24Vanderbilt 27, Auburn 19Washington 27, Wisconsin 21Virginia 31, Wake Forest 17Alabama 38, LSU 17Nevada 28, Utah State 14UCLA 21, Nebraska 20Texas Tech 28, BYU 24
Last week: 12-5; overall 125-37 (.771)