BYU understands the task at hand facing Texas Tech in Saturday’s Big 12 championship game at Arlington, Texas.
The No. 11 Cougars need to beat No. 4 Texas Tech to earn the conference’s automatic berth to be part of the College Football Playoff. Lose to the Red Raiders (11-1) for a second time this season and BYU (11-1) can count on one more game, but stands little chance of being in the 12-team field revealed on Sunday.
“We are really excited,” Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier said. “We know what’s at stake.”
Texas Tech could earn a top-four seed and a first-round bye with a victory. The Red Raiders are expected to be part of the playoff field even if they should lose the rematch.
Texas Tech’s impressive season includes all 11 wins by at least 20 points and it leads the nation with a victory margin of 35.2 points. The Red Raiders’ lone blemish was a 26-22 road loss at Arizona State on Oct. 18 when standout quarterback Behren Morton was sidelined with a lower-leg injury.
Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said both teams should be in the CFP regardless of the result.
“Without a doubt, we should both be in the playoffs, no matter what happens on Saturday,” McGuire said. “I think we’ve earned the ride. … We are as good as anybody in the country, and we’re going to put on a great game.”
BYU started 8-0 before the loss to the Red Raiders. The Cougars bounced back by winning their past three games by an average of 21 points.
Both teams went 8-1 in Big 12 play but it was a one-sided matchup when host Texas Tech routed the Cougars 29-7 on Nov. 8.
Star linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had an interception and a fumble recovery as the Red Raiders held BYU to a season-low 255 yards. Still, Rodriguez said that he was impressed with the Cougars’ offense.
“I think they do a really good job of running the football,” Rodriguez said Tuesday. “They don’t get sacked a lot. That’s a credit to their game plan. … Just excited for the matchup. I’m excited to play high-level football.”
Bachmeier passed for 188 yards and a touchdown, but turned the ball over twice to Rodriguez. The fumble Rodriguez recovered was on a backward pass.
Rodriguez is on the second tier of Heisman Trophy candidates and leads the nation with seven forced fumbles. He also has four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, 10 tackles for loss and a team-best 101 tackles.
Ironically, both programs announced extensions with their head coaches on Tuesday.
The Red Raiders rewarded McGuire with an extension through the 2032 season that will eventually pay him more than $7 million annually.
“We expect to continue to elevate this program where appearances in the Big 12 title game, like this Saturday, and the College Football Playoff are expected on an annual basis,” McGuire said.
BYU coach Kalani Sitake turned down overtures from Penn State to remain in Provo. He received a long-term extension reportedly worth upwards of $9 million annually after leading the Cougars to back-to-back 11-win seasons for the first time 2006 and 2007 under Bronco Mendenhall.
“This is good for the stability and future of BYU football,” Sitake said. “I’m excited about our future.”
Like McGuire, Sitake expects two Big 12 teams to be part of the CFP field.
“I’m looking forward to both teams representing the Big 12 in this playoff, and doing it the right way,” Sitake said.
Morton passed for 219 yards and one touchdown against BYU but also was sacked a season-worst four times.
McGuire had Morton practice with a boot on the leg since he returned from the injury but Morton said he will take the practice field Wednesday without it.
“Wednesday we’ll take off the boot, put some cleats on and move around a little bit,” Morton said. “And then Friday, for our fast Friday practice, stay in cleats.”
