Texas Tech’s newer rivalry with BYU looks to have transcended to the basketball court after both teams battled to be the best football team in the Big 12 this season.<\/p>\n
Not just social media, but fans for both schools have been vocal about who is the new king of the Big 12 in recent months and weeks. However, first is a look at some of the social media posts involving this new and exciting rivalry for the fans of both programs.<\/p>\n
The Texas Tech vs. BYU matchup has become the premier matchup of the Big 12, regardless of the sport.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Red Raider Man\ud83c\udf35 (@redraiderman1) January 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n BYU is NOT winning tomorrow. pic.twitter.com\/ikkAxODf19<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Top Tier Texas Tech (@TopTierGunsUp) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n I don\u2019t know if I can ever forgive Texas tech for this<\/p>\n \u2014 BYU Florida \ud83d\udc06\u2694\ufe0f (@BYUFlorida) January 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n However, the rivalry really intensified during football season.<\/p>\n I\u2019m officially announcing that BYU vs Texas Tech will double as a custody match. <\/p>\n The winner of this game will sign a 3 year contract with me and I will support them fully through thick and thin. May the best school win. pic.twitter.com\/B9FZX8z7He<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 IcyVert (@IcyVert) December 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n WRECKED ‘EM, TECH \ud83d\udd25 <\/p>\n No. 8 Texas Tech hands No. 7 BYU its first loss of the season \ud83d\ude24 pic.twitter.com\/Y085yziQrq<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ESPN (@espn) November 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n TEXAS TECH HANDLES BYU AT JERRY\u2019S WORLD \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n Red Raiders are Big 12 Champs for the FIRST TIME in program history \ud83c\udfc6 pic.twitter.com\/55xnrMSq5H<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Texas Tech is 2-0 against BYU this season \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/ScM4ZJ4TEz<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n There does seem to be genuine respect between the coaches and fanbase.<\/p>\n BYU \ud83e\udd1d Texas Tech <\/p>\n Just a couple of lil ol Big 12 schools tired of the disrespect.<\/p>\n \u2014 BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) December 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n After BYU lost to Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday, Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire lobbied for the Cougars to be included in the College Football Playoff. pic.twitter.com\/uZ8qeNqWVx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_TV) December 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Texas Tech is just straight up better. The quality and depth of their roster is something BYU does not have yet. Texas Tech can absolutely win a national championship with this team. #WreckEm<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ppLVM45g64<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 BoozeCougs (@BoozeCougs) December 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n “Who’s played the best team in the country twice? We have… everybody else will find out… I’d love to have a third chance at them.”<\/p>\n More from BYU head coach Kalani Sitake on Texas Tech after their second loss to the Red Raiders this season. pic.twitter.com\/X4ktkRygCs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Texas Tech and BYU both would\u2019ve won the SEC this year<\/p>\n \u2014 Derrico Henrio (@derrico_henrio) January 9, 2026<\/a>Here now is why and how Texas Tech and BYU have arguably become the best rivalry in the Big 12 this season.<\/p>\n The competition between Texas Tech and BYU is now widely regarded as one of the best in the conference. This competitiveness is due to the conference title game in football, the “top 10” matchups, and the clash of styles from both programs.<\/p>\n Because past rivals no longer play Texas Tech due to teams like Texas, SMU, and Texas A&M departing to other leagues, the Red Raiders and Cougars have filled the gap with exciting football and basketball battles. Here are three reasons why this has become the best rivalry in the Big 12.<\/p>\n 1. High-stakes drama in football that has occurred this past season. A few weeks later, they met each other again at AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the Big 12 Championship. Texas Tech won its first Big 12 conference title since 1955 and a position in the College Football Playoff with a 34\u20137 triumph over BYU to advance to the College Football playoffs. The Red Raiders were the only team to defeat the Cougars this past season in football.<\/p>\n Before BYU joined the Big 12 in 2023, these teams had only played each other once, which was in 1940<\/a>. The new factor, along with the quick intensity of the rivalry, makes the competition between these two schools particularly intriguing. <\/p>\n 2. The battle of identity, like the rivalry, is based on two very different “brands” in this new era of college sports. Texas Tech is regarded for having one of the wildest and most raucous settings in the country for its home games. It has a “West Texas” grit type of feel on the campus in Lubbock as well. The Red Raiders in football also play a defense that is quite aggressive. BYU has a strong, devoted, and passionate fanbase, with a national brand and fans all across the world. This rivalry isn’t quite like Notre Dame’s and Miami’s, but it has some similar characteristics that are forming.<\/p>\n As part of the “Toughest Team Wins” motto, both institutions have put more emphasis on physical, blue-collar characteristics for their football programs. The football programs assembled by Joey McGuire at Texas Tech and Kalani Sitake at BYU contribute to a sense of old-school rivalry between the two teams. As a result, both fanbases respect each other’s football programs, and the rivalry will only grow.<\/p>\n 3. Both basketball programs play fiercely and compete as they do in football. The rivalry isn’t only on the football field. Both teams have been in the Top 25 all season in 2024\u201325 and 2025\u201326. Therefore, their games on the basketball court are like battles that will help define their basketball programs. Texas Tech had a significant win on the road in Provo in early 2025, but BYU is now Tech’s greatest challenge in the Big 12 this season, along with Houston and Iowa State. Styles of play vary between the two basketball programs, as BYU’s large number of shots from the outside and Texas Tech’s “No Middle” defense will lead to some fascinating tactical battles that fans of both teams will adore.<\/p>\n As always, social media shows the energy and excitement of this new rivalry as both teams take the court against one another.<\/p>\n One of the best environments in college basketball.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s do it again Saturday vs. BYU. pic.twitter.com\/7Olc9HgDSP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) January 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n BYU plays for its first win over Texas Tech since joining the Big 12, and to extend a 13-game win streak, 12-game Big 12 regular season win streak and six-game true away win streak.<\/p>\n Texas Tech is out to extend a 10-game home win streak.<\/p>\n Join @jsnshep<\/a>, @DurrantMark<\/a> and me at 5\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/aTFuX4LJPL<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Big one in the 806 this evening versus BYU. #WreckEm<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udd9a: BYU Cougars \u2014 RedRaiderSports.com (@RedRaiderSports) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Matchup of the Week \u2705 \u23f0 8 PM EST \u2014 Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n This will be a fantastic one, with Texas Tech looking to win and stay in the race to win the Big 12 this year. <\/p>\n More From Texas Tech On SI<\/p>\n Stay up to date on Texas Tech Athletics by bookmarking\u00a0Texas Tech On SI<\/a>and follow us on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n
After the 2025 season, this rivalry became a “must-see.” The battle between two Top 10 teams this season intensified the rivalry. The first time Texas Tech and BYU played each other this past November, Texas Tech was ranked No. 8, while BYU was ranked seventh, making it a significant game that attracted a lot of media attention. College GameDay was in Lubbock for the game for the first time since 2008. The Red Raiders defeated the Cougars 29\u20137 in front of a sold-out “Stripe the Stadium” crowd, giving the Cougars their first loss of the season.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udccd: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, TX
\u23f0: 7:00 PM CT
\ud83d\udcfa: ESPN
\ud83d\udcfb: Texas Tech Sports Network pic.twitter.com\/rp51RFO7Zi<\/a><\/p>\n
You won\u2019t wanna miss #11 BYU at #15 Texas Tech as these powerhouses go head to head \ud83d\ude24<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcfa ESPN#Big12MBB<\/a> | @Big12Conference<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Z3Np17FG6w<\/a><\/p>\n