The Cougars came into Arlington Stadium dreaming big with a playoff spot within reach. And when LJ Martin punched in a 10-yard score to put BYU on the board first, you’d expect the place to erupt. Instead, the celebration felt muted, the nerves still hanging in the air.

Before the first score, with 4:58 remaining on the clock, star BYU QB Bear Bachmeier was noticeably limping after his QB run. Now, as the second quarter ended with the Red Raiders having a 13-7 lead, the commentators kept saying that he’s clearly not at 100% and is moving gingerly.

On the opening drive during a gritty QB draw, a Texas Tech defensive tackle rolled up on his left ankle, twisting it viciously just before LJ Martin’s TD scamper. ABC broadcasters spotted the tweak immediately, as Bachmeier limped off for urgent sideline treatment. Trainers wrapped the ankle thickly with tape, but the 19-year-old warrior gutted it out, staying in for every snap despite the hobble. However, he seemed very limited till the end of the first half. It’s a massive setback for BYU that counted on this freshman throughout the regular season, and he even delivered.

The 18-year-old wasn’t sidelined for one single game this season. He was the driving force behind BYU’s dominant 11-1 run. Bachmeier enrolled early at Stanford in the spring of 2025 before transferring to BYU. And once he did, he never slowed down. He threw for 1,260 yards and 12 touchdowns, but his legs made him a nightmare, too. He added 439 rushing yards, punched in 8 scores on the ground, and kept mistakes to a minimum with just two picks. No surprise he walked away as the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year. The kid’s been electric.

That’s why this hurts gives out a major question mark for the rest of BYU’s season. Now that’s only going to happen if BYU can manage this game, even with a close win. It’s just twelve minutes remaining of the fourth quarter, and the Red Raiders are cruising with a 24-7 lead. The situation is surely one-sided, but it’s not too late for a comeback, especially when playoff dreams are at stake.

BYU’s playoff hopes put to bed? 

The No. 4 Texas Tech Raiders unleashed a sequel as ruthless as the original in the AT&T Stadium. It almost became the carbon copy of the November 8th clash that showcased a 29-7 loss for the Cougars, just this time the winning score was slightly more. Tech’s elite defense, allowing just 11.2 points per game, swarmed like wolves. The unit forced four second-half turnovers that buried BYU’s playoff pulse. The script flipped early.

Tech struck first with Stone Harrington’s field goals. It built a 13-3 halftime edge after BYU’s LJ Martin clawed a TD but managed only 76 rushing yards total. Behren Morton, now fully healed, carved BYU for 215 passing yards and two TDs to Coy Eakin, including a 28-yard catch-and-run stunner that ignited the Red Raider faithful. Cameron Dickey cashed an interception return for 11 yards, while Romello Height’s fumble fueled Harrington’s third kick.

The Red Raiders, punting just twice, outgained the Cougars 159-63 on the ground. Linebacker Ben Roberts etched history with two picks off Bachmeier. It became his first multi-INT game since October. Bachmeier finished 16-of-27 for 115 yards. It’s a far cry from his 529 rushing TD season magic. It happened so because Tech’s front seven (led by Jacob Rodriguez and David Bailey) suffocated the run and vertical threats CBS previewed as BYU’s lifeline. The win sealed Tech’s first conference crown since 1994, clinching a CFP first-round bye at 12-1.​

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