Nearly 30 years after joining the conference, Texas Tech makes its first-ever appearance in the Big 12 Football Championship this weekend — and they’ll face a familiar foe.
The Red Raiders will play Brigham Young University for the second time this season on Saturday, this time in Arlington at AT&T Stadium, with a conference title — and likely a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff — on the line.
In a conference on Monday, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormak praised both programs for their journeys this season.
“Both programs are not only worthy of competing in the Big 12 title, but they both deserve to be in the CFP based on their resumes and their bodies of work,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormak said.
“Texas Tech’s terrific season has them firmly in the CFP. No doubt.”
Both teams have yet to appear in the Big 12 Championship before. BYU joined the conference in 2023, while Tech is one of only two founding members from the league’s start in 1996 that had never reached the title game.
During their first matchup in early November, Texas Tech was ranked No. 8 in the AP Top 25 College Football Poll, and BYU was one slot ahead at No. 7.
Hundreds of tents were set up outside of Jones AT&T Stadium as early as a week before, as students tried securing their spot for the high-profile matchup.
Tech went on to defeat BYU handily, by a score of 29-7, giving the Cougars their sole loss so far this year.
Tech now ranks fourth in the country with a record of 10-1 (7-1 in conference play), — their only loss a 26-22 defeat to Arizona State in October — while BYU has fallen to No. 11.
A win on Saturday for the Red Raiders almost assuredly seals a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
Texas Tech’s head football coach Joey McGuire also spoke on Monday, expressing excitement about the matchup and his respect for BYU’s staff.
“I'm really fired up because I get to play a good friend,” McGuire said. “We have two very physical teams. I think the two best teams in the conference are playing this weekend.”
“I think we're as good as anybody in the country, and we're going to put on a great game.”
Texas Tech announced Tuesday that McGuire agreed to a seven-year contract extension that will keep him with the Red Raiders through 2032.