ARLINGTON, Texas — The phrase “when it rains, it pours” felt like the only way to describe No. 11 BYU’s offensive unraveling in Saturday’s Big 12 Championship against No. 4 Texas Tech in a 34-7 loss in front of a crowd of more than 85,000 at AT&T Stadium.
BYU opened the afternoon looking nothing like the team that would struggle for the next three quarters.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier led the Cougars on a deliberate 14-play, 90-yard drive that ate nearly seven minutes and put BYU up 7–0 early in the first quarter.
For a moment, BYU had command. Confidence was obvious, and Texas Tech looked like the team feeling the pressure of the moment and the stakes.
That moment evaporated quickly. BYU never saw the end zone again.
Three second-quarter possessions that totaled 24 yards resulted in three punts, including one failed fake and zero points.
With repeated opportunities, Texas Tech found its footing, piling up 113 yards and 13 points to take a 13–7 lead into halftime.
A brief spark returned on BYU’s opening drive of the third quarter, a steady 12-play, 47-yard drive. But when the Cougars stalled on third down and Will Ferrin missed a 46-yard field goal, it became the turning point that sent BYU over the cliff for the final 25 minutes.
The next four BYU possessions: interception, punt, lost fumble, interception.
Texas Tech capitalized, stacking on 21 more points and shutting down any hint of a championship-day upset.
BYU closed with just 200 yards of total offense and four turnovers. The run game, promising early, managed only 63 yards on 2.1 yards per carry — a season low.
Postgame, Coach Kalani Sitake didn’t sugarcoat it when talking about the struggles caused by Texas Tech’s defense.
“They’re the best team in the country and they created a lot of havoc,” he said.
He added: "We put our defense in tough positions."
That havoc took a physical toll. According to Sitake and wide receiver Chase Roberts, Bachmeier finished the game “playing on one leg,” a factor that only compounded the Cougars’ offensive struggles.
As for the rest of the year, the Cougars will now have to sit on pins and needles watching Selection Sunday hoping and praying for an opportunity to sneak into the College Football Playoffs.
If not, a berth in the Alamo or Pop Tarts Bowl could be a likely scenario to complete the 2025 season.