BYU, Texas Tech Set for Big 12 Title Clash - and Maybe a Playoff Spot
With one win standing between BYU and a Big 12 championship, the Cougars are also staring down something even bigger: a potential ticket to the College Football Playoff. But heading into Saturday’s showdown with No. 5 Texas Tech at AT&T Stadium, the conversation isn’t just about what happens on the field - it’s about whether BYU should already be in the Playoff picture, win or lose.
At 11-1 overall and 8-1 in conference play, BYU has quietly built one of the most complete résumés in college football. But the Cougars sit at No. 11 in the current Playoff rankings - the lowest-ranked one-loss team - behind two-loss squads like Oklahoma and Alabama. That’s raised more than a few eyebrows, including those of Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, who took the unusual step of publicly campaigning for his conference during a pregame conference call this week.
“Let’s not look at logos; let’s look at résumés,” Yormark said. “Any blind résumé comparison has BYU in the top 10. No questions about it.”
He’s not wrong to point out the numbers. BYU owns a better overall record, a stronger strength of record, and a tougher strength of schedule than Notre Dame - a team with two close losses to Miami and Texas A&M. Meanwhile, the Cougars’ lone blemish came against Texas Tech, a team ranked six spots higher and the very opponent they’ll face on Saturday.
Yormark’s comments may have come late in the process, but he’s not the only one banging the drum. Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has been vocal about his belief that both teams deserve a Playoff spot, no matter the outcome of the Big 12 title game.
“I think, without a doubt, we both should be in the Playoffs - no matter what happens on Saturday,” McGuire said ahead of last week’s 49-0 win over West Virginia. “We’re as good as anybody in the country, and we’re going to put on a great game.”
Kalani Sitake, BYU’s head coach, echoed that sentiment, saying both programs have been undervalued in the Playoff conversation. And he didn’t shy away from praising the Red Raiders, especially after their dominant 29-7 win over BYU back on Nov. 8.
“We didn’t show up at our best,” Sitake admitted. “A lot of that had to do with Texas Tech.
They’re a complete team with a great coach, a great coaching staff, and all three phases play amazing football. I think they’re the best team in the country.”
That kind of mutual respect has been brewing for a while. Sitake shared that he and McGuire talked weeks ago about potentially meeting again in the Big 12 title game - a conversation that now feels almost prophetic.
“When Joey and I had dinner, we talked about this; we talked about playing each other in the championship game,” Sitake said. “We manifested it.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Under the 12-team Playoff format, the five highest-ranked conference champions receive automatic bids.
That means Saturday’s winner is almost certainly in. For the loser, it’s murkier - but not impossible - depending on how the committee views their full body of work.
What’s clear is that both teams believe they belong. And with an expected sellout crowd of 80,000 at AT&T Stadium - home of the Dallas Cowboys - the Big 12 title game has all the ingredients of a Playoff-caliber clash.
Forget the rankings for a second. BYU and Texas Tech have earned their way here, and on Saturday, they’ll get one last chance to prove it - not just to the committee, but to the entire college football world.
Big 12 Championship Game
- Matchup: No.
5 Texas Tech (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) vs. No.
11 BYU (11-1, 8-1 Big 12)
- Date: Saturday, Dec.
6
- Kickoff: 10 a.m.
MST
- TV: ABC
- Streaming: WatchESPN
- Radio: BYUradio SiriusXM 143 / KSL 1160AM, 102.7 FM
- Series history: Texas Tech leads, 2-1
One win. One trophy.
One potential Playoff berth. Everything’s on the line in Arlington.