Texas Tech Eyes History as Red Raiders Prepare for First-Ever Conference Title Game
For the first time in program history, Texas Tech football is headed to a conference championship game-and they’re not just showing up, they’re arriving with serious momentum and major stakes on the line.
At 11-1, the Red Raiders are riding high into Saturday’s Big 12 Championship in Arlington, where they’ll meet BYU in a rematch that’s shaping up to be one of the most physical, high-stakes games of the college football season. A win would lock up an automatic College Football Playoff berth, though Texas Tech’s résumé might already be strong enough to punch their ticket regardless. For BYU, the path is more straightforward: win or stay home.
But don’t let the past matchup fool you-this one’s far from a guaranteed repeat.
A Familiar Foe, a New Stage
Texas Tech and BYU already squared off once this season, back on Nov. 8 in Lubbock. The Red Raiders walked away with a 29-7 win, handing BYU its only loss of the year.
On paper, it was a decisive victory. But look closer and you’ll see that game was actually Texas Tech’s lowest scoring output with starting quarterback Behren Morton under center, and the slimmest margin of victory they’ve posted all season.
That’s not lost on head coach Joey McGuire.
“Sometimes when you’ve beaten somebody, you think it’s just going to happen again,” McGuire said this week. “You’ve got to be really wary of that.”
McGuire’s not just saying the right things-he’s clearly doing the homework. He told reporters that his coaching staff has been combing through that first matchup, identifying what worked, what didn’t, and where BYU might be able to adjust. That kind of self-scouting is crucial when you're trying to beat a quality opponent twice in one season-something that’s notoriously difficult in college football.
Respect Between Rivals
There’s a genuine respect between McGuire and BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, and it’s clear both programs have earned their way to this moment. McGuire called Sitake “a good friend” and praised BYU’s growth since that November matchup, especially pointing out the play of freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who’s quickly becoming one of the most talked-about young signal-callers in the country.
“They just keep getting better and better,” McGuire said. “I think Kalani’s got one of the best freshmen in the country at quarterback and an incredible staff.
We’re honored. We’re excited.
We feel like we’ve earned our right to play in this game.”
That last point matters. McGuire doesn’t just believe Texas Tech belongs in the Playoff-he thinks BYU does too, regardless of Saturday’s outcome.
“I think, without a doubt, we both should be in,” he said. “They’re discounting both of us when you look at where we’re ranked. I think we’re as good as anybody in the country.”
Star Power on Both Sides
One player who could swing the outcome? BYU running back LJ Martin.
Martin, who was once committed to Texas Tech before ultimately landing at BYU, has emerged as one of the most physical and dynamic backs in the Big 12. He’s even in the mix for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors-and McGuire’s not surprised.
“I love LJ and his parents,” McGuire said. “He’s a stud.
I’m not fired up to face him Saturday, but I’m fired up he’s at BYU. He’s with a great coaching staff.”
Martin brings a rare combination of physicality and finesse. He runs behind his pads, catches the ball well out of the backfield, and carries himself with the kind of presence that draws people in.
“He’s got that height, that smile, that magnetism,” McGuire added. “I’m a big fan of LJ’s. I’m gonna root like crazy for him in the Playoff-just not this Saturday.”
A Program-Defining Moment
Texas Tech hasn’t won an outright conference title since 1955. That’s 70 years of waiting, building, and chasing a moment like this. McGuire knows exactly how much this means-not just for his team, but for the Red Raider faithful who’ve stuck with the program through thick and thin.
“We pushed all our chips in this year, and we feel like it’s paid off,” McGuire said. “There’s a lot of Red Raiders fired up, and they’re going to be there in Arlington. They’ve been waiting for this.”
With the College Football Playoff on the line and the chance to make school history, Saturday’s showdown at AT&T Stadium is more than just a title game-it’s a defining chapter in Texas Tech’s football story.
And if McGuire’s squad can finish the job, the Red Raiders won’t just be making their first appearance in a conference championship-they’ll be crashing the national conversation in a big way.