“Man, I can’t wait to see where the CFP is going to put us,” fourth-year Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “We’re looking forward to the bye. You know, we’re hoping and expecting that’s where we’ll be.”

Rodriguez had 13 tackles and Ben Roberts overcame an early injury scare with two interceptions in the second half when Tech forced four turnovers while holding BYU to a season-low 200 yards total offense. The two linebackers have both played more than 40 games for a defense transformed by additions in the transfer portal.

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Behren Morton, who made his 35th start but didn’t play in Tech’s only loss at Arizona State, threw two touchdowns to Coy Eakin and Stone Harrington kicked four field goals for the Red Raiders (12-1, No. 4 CFP).

Texas Tech, one of only six schools that have been part of all 30 Big 12 seasons, likely prevented the league from getting a second team in the playoff.

“You can’t make a lot of mistakes like we did. We’ve learned it again. That’s the second time this year,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “I’ve said it before, I think they’re the best team in the country and I’m confirming it. They’re the best team in the country. It just so happens that we had to play the best team in the country twice.”

The only losses by BYU (11-2, No. 11 CFP) are to the Red Raiders, including 29-7 in Lubbock four weeks ago. The Cougars, who likely needed to be in the top 10 for a playoff spot, won’t move up when the final CFP rankings come out Sunday.

Roberts got his first interception with about 3½ minutes left in the third quarter when he reached up and deflected a pass by true freshman Bear Bachmeier. On the next play, Cameron Dickey took a direct snap and ran untouched 11 yards for a touchdown and 21-7 lead after making the 2-point conversion.

Harrington, who kicked a school-record five field goals against BYU last month, missed a 49-yard field goal attempt after Roberts jumped a route to make a one-handed interception in the fourth quarter.

Midway through the first quarter on BYU’s opening drive, Roberts was down on one knee at the end of a play. He came in and out of the game until halftime, then had a huge impact after that.

“His ab/hip was really bothering him, and [the training staff] got it loosened up and then all of a sudden we got two picks by this guy,” McGuire said.

Roberts believes he tweaked his lower abdomen when fully extended on a tackle of Bachmeier a few plays earlier.

“I just did everything I could to stretch it out and fix it up,” Roberts said. “The trainers really helped me at halftime. They got it all heated up and relaxed.”

The Cougars avoided a slow start this time, going 90 yards in 14 plays on their opening drive for a 7-0 lead on LJ Martin’s 10-yard TD run. But they had only 24 more yards before halftime, and 110 the rest of the game. They trailed 26-0 in Lubbock before their only touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

BYU will wait to see where it will go for its 19th bowl game in 21 seasons.

Texas Tech won’t have a playoff game at home if it has a first-round bye and plays in one of the four CFP quarterfinal games Dec. 31 or Jan. 1. One of those games is the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on New Year’s Eve.