(Photo: YouTube)
Campus Clash- Big 12 Championship
(11) BYU Cougars at (5) Texas Tech Red Raiders
BYU (11-1):
I’ve had the chance to watch them play a few times this year, and I’ve liked what I’ve seen. If you aren’t a fan of high-powered offenses, this is the team for you, and what I appreciate most about them is that they remain true to their identity: chew up the clock and slow the game down. Most importantly, they never jump outside their box and pretend to be something they aren’t, and I can respect that. This is a group that started 8–0 and appeared to be steamrolling through the competition. Against UCF to close out the season, the Cougars looked to be in trouble as they were down by 14 points. But football is about how you adjust and respond when you’re down, and they came back with confidence, scoring 38 points over the next two quarters behind a stellar performance from Bear Bachmeier. Since their loss on November 8th, they ended the season on a three-game winning streak. This may not be a team that “wows” anyone, but to a football purist, I love how they approach the game, as I mentioned a few sentences earlier. They have one more chance to keep themselves in the playoff bracket, and this Saturday afternoon, they’ll look for revenge against the team that handed them their only loss of the season.
Texas Tech (11-1):
They have been one of the more exciting teams in the nation this year, and to be honest, they don’t have many weaknesses. This is an offense that can turn a game into a track meet when the opportunity presents itself, and if a defense limits their passing attack, they can run the ball and grind games out. I think their only true weakness is their third-down conversion rate, but even then, they still find ways to move the ball up and down the field. After being upset by the Arizona State Sun Devils, they rebounded nicely and ended their regular season with five consecutive wins, including a shutout victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown. How healthy is Behren Morton? I still remember when he was knocked out of the game against Utah in September, and throughout the year he’s dealt with some bumps and bruises—but then again, who isn’t dealing with something at this point in the season? It’s a long, physical sport; nobody comes out unscathed. One thing I’ll say about the quarterback: when he’s needed to deliver, he has done just that. They’ve been the best team in the Big 12 by far and have dominated opponents while playing consistent football on both sides of the ball. Their defense is one of the best in the nation, led by a strong tandem in David Bailey and Romello Height. This Saturday, they’ll face the BYU Cougars in the Big 12 Championship.
BYU X-Factor: LJ Martin
When these teams met a few weeks ago, he was my X-factor then, and in this conference title game, he’s my X-factor again. LJ led the conference in carries, rushing yards, and yards per game. In their last meeting, it was his first game back, and he was kept in check. Since returning to the lineup, LJ has shown flashes of what he can do, and in their win against Cincinnati, he finished with 222 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Establishing him, controlling the clock, and keeping the Red Raiders’ offense off the field will be key.
Texas Tech X-Factor: Caleb Douglas
This offense is full of weapons, and Caleb is one of them. He’s that big-play, possession receiver at 6’4” who can go up and get the football—the kind every coach and quarterback dreams about. Caleb can stretch the field and threaten a BYU defense that will do everything possible to limit explosive plays. He can win his matchups and turn short gains into momentum-shifting plays. He has become a crucial piece of this Texas Tech passing attack.
Final Thoughts:
These two teams met on November 8th, when Texas Tech handed BYU its only loss of the regular season. After that game, I said to myself that these two would meet again—and here we are, this time with a conference title on the line. I remember Texas Tech dominating that first meeting with a swarming defense, and on offense, Cam Dickey ran all over a BYU defense that’s actually quite strong. For BYU, the first key is protecting the football and limiting turnovers. In November, turnovers and a muffed punt gave Texas Tech prime opportunities. Next, they need to mix up their offense. Relying too heavily on one dimension makes it easy for Tech’s defense to anticipate and stall drives. Use a balanced dose of run and pass to keep them guessing. Lastly, they must stay disciplined. Tech’s offense thrives on explosive plays; even if BYU gives up yards, they can still prevent the big shots downfield. For Texas Tech, lean on that dominant run defense and make BYU uncomfortable. They held LJ Martin to 35 rushing yards in the last meeting. Control the tempo by mixing run and pass to sustain long drives. And finally, win the turnover battle—an area that has been a major strength for the Red Raiders all year. This matchup kicks off the action on Saturday, and I can’t wait for it.
