The top two teams in the Big 12 meet in the early ABC national NCAA football game during Week 11 of the 2025 season. In that matchup, the BYU Cougars face the Texas Tech Red Raiders. BYU enters the game as the No. 8 ranked team in the nation, while Texas Tech comes into a home game as the No. 9 ranked NCAAF squad.
The BYU Cougars are 8-0 overall in 2025, and sport a perfect 5-0 mark in the Big 12. BYU is coming off a 41-27 win over Iowa State on the road. Before that, the Cougars faced the ranked Utah Utes, beating them 24-21 at home. This game is the biggest matchup on BYU’s remaining schedule. BYU is the No. 1 team in the Big 12.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the No. 2 team in the Big 12 with an 8-1 mark overall, and a 5-1 record in the conference. Texas Tech is on a two-game winning streak, having wins over Oklahoma State (42-0) and Kansas State (43-20) in its past two outings. Those wins follow the team’s only loss of the year, a 26-22 setback to Arizona State on the road. Texas Tech has games against UCF and West Virginia remaining on its schedule.
These clubs met twice before. In October 2023, BYU defeated Texas Tech 27-14 at home. The other game, a 21-20 Texas Tech win in Texas, took place in 1940.
The BYU Cougars enter Week 11 of the 2025 NCAA football season in the same spot they were in last season, with a perfect record, and poised to win the Big 12. However, the club lost to Kansas and Arizona State and lost in a tiebreaker to play for the conference title. This game is enormous for the Cougars.
BYU enters Week 11 coming off a bye week, which should have them well-rested and well-prepared for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
BYU is a run-heavy team, and the Texas Tech defense will test them. If they can establish the run early, it will give the Cougars a lot of momentum. LJ Martin is the leading rusher in the Big 12 with 789 yards. However, BYU can get things done in the air as well, as Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston both have over 500 receiving yards on the year.
The Cougars’ secondary has done a good job in generating turnovers this year, and they should get the opportunity to do that this week against an opponent who likes to throw the ball.
If the Texas Tech Red Raiders want to make the college football playoffs this year, a win over the BYU Cougars feels like a must.
Texas Tech needs to be prepared for the Cougars’ running game, and the stats suggest they will be, as the team allows the fewest yards per game on the ground in the NCAA, with an average of 74.6. The Texas Tech front line is exceptional, but the secondary is also above average, allowing 196.8 yards per game passing, which ranks the team No. 5 in the Big 12 in passing defense. Overall, the Texas Tech defense allows the fewest points per game in the conference at 13.2.
The Red Raiders are very good when they establish the passing game, averaging 294.4 yards per game, which is third in the Big 12. Texas Tech has five players with more than 300 receiving yards on the year in Caleb Douglas (594), Coy Eakin (460), Reggie Virgil (435), Terrance Carter Jr. (378), and J’Koby Williams (300).
BYU gave up 200 yards on the ground against Utah. While Texas Tech does not run as a first option, the team should test the Cougars’ running defense in this game.
BYU Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Picks and Predictions
The BYU Cougars will be rested and ready for Week 11, but they are heading into Texas Tech’s home stadium to face a team that has a lot at stake in this game. Overall, Texas Tech is the more complete and talented team, and that will matter this week.
The betting pick is for the Texas Tech Red Raiders to beat the BYU Cougars in Big 12 action.
Trent is a professional sports journalist specializing in UFC, MMA, and esports coverage. His work has been featured in prestigious publications such as USA Today Sports, Vice, Bloody Elbow, Fight! Magazine, UFC 360, and Narratively. Trent's connection to MMA dates back to the early days when he and his friends pooled their resources to purchase the pay-per-view broadcast of UFC 1. He also has extensive experience in esports, particularly League of Legends and Counter Strike, dating back to the game's launch.