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Saturday’s showdown between No. 9 Texas Tech and No. 8 BYU had the look of a Big 12 game that could reshape both the conference standings and the College Football Playoff picture — and it absolutely delivered, just not in the high-scoring way many expected. Instead, it was about defense, discipline, and the quiet confidence of a kicker who just kept on delivering. Stone Harrington kicked a school-record five field goals, and the Texas Tech defense played perhaps its most complete game of the season in a convincing 29-7 win in Lubbock.
For the Red Raiders, this was a statement. It was their first top-10 matchup since 2008, and they played like a team fully aware of what was at stake. Quarterback Behren Morton didn’t have to be flashy, but he was efficient, throwing for 216 yards and connecting with Caleb Douglas for a 9-yard touchdown early that gave Tech control. Meanwhile, Cameron Dickey provided the physical presence on the ground, rushing for 121 yards and punching in a 1-yard score that capped off a balanced offensive effort.
But the real tone-setter came from the defense — and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez in particular. Rodriguez had two massive takeaways that swung momentum firmly in Texas Tech’s favor. His interception midway through the third quarter didn’t result in a touchdown, but it did lead to one of Harrington’s field goals — the fourth of the day — stretching Tech’s lead and keeping the Cougars frustrated. Then, late in the fourth, Rodriguez pounced on a backward pass, giving the Red Raiders another short field and another chance for Harrington to add to his record-setting total.
Harrington’s field goals — from 47, 39, 34, 29, and 27 yards — weren’t just points. They were evidence of composure. They were the product of drives that didn’t stall because of panic, but because Tech took what BYU gave and didn’t force reckless plays. Sometimes, winning in November isn’t about fireworks; it’s about not blinking.
BYU, meanwhile, came in undefeated and averaging more than 36 points per game. They had looked explosive all season, but Texas Tech’s defense held them to a season-low 255 total yards. The Cougars didn’t get on the board until Bear Bachmeier found Chase Roberts for a 6-yard score in the fourth quarter, avoiding what would have been their first shutout since 2017. The offense simply never found its rhythm — a shock for a team that had been so smooth all year.
This loss snaps BYU’s 10-game winning streak and tightens the race at the top of the Big 12. Both teams still have matchups with UCF ahead, and BYU faces a tough road trip to No. 25 Cincinnati, another contender. Texas Tech, sitting at 9-1, now controls its path to the Big 12 Championship — and possibly something even bigger.
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