Texas Tech Thumps No. 7 BYU In Cougars’ First Loss

Nov 8, 2025, 1:40 PM | Updated: 1:42 pm

Digital Sports Producer

LUBBOCK, Texas –Special teams mistakes opened the door, and Texas Tech broke it down in a 29-7 beatdown of previously undefeated BYU football.

A shanked punt from Sam Vander Haar and a muffed punt by Parker Kingston set the tone for what would be an ugly offensive day for BYU.

The only reason the final deficit wasn’t larger was an otherworldly performance from the BYU defense.

Final: (8) Texas Tech 29, (7) BYU 7 pic.twitter.com/2VGLyM0S9k

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Bear Bachmeier finished with 188 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while taking a beating throughout the day. LJ Martin never got going after a 12-yard run to start the day, finishing with 35 yards on ten carries.

BYU football players who are “OUT” for Saturday’s game against Texas Tech

RB Sione Moa
CB Marcus McKenzie
DT Anisi Purcell
S Tommy Prassas

Texas Tech football players who are “OUT” for Saturday’s game against BYU

DL Skyler Gill-Howard
WR T.J. West
WR Leyton Stone
WR Roy Alexander
OL Hunter Zambrano

Pregame

Key Storylines for No. 7 BYU at No. 8 Texas Tech on today's Cougar Tracks.https://t.co/N7dz0eg5Kn pic.twitter.com/lS93o4rIPv

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 6, 2025

College Gameday: BYU at Texas Tech pic.twitter.com/bOoTKqhQnS

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 7, 2025

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A post shared by KSL Sports (@kslsports)

Views from College Gameday for BYU at Texas Tech pic.twitter.com/HNRgh3QW5F

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Good vibes for the @kslsports team today in Lubbock.

6 7! 😂 @kyleireland pic.twitter.com/Jav1oRp2Yo

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

BYU RB Sione Moa made the trip. He’s OUT for this game, but good to see him back on the road with the team. pic.twitter.com/3TSgBpPx6p

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Texas Tech basketball head coach Grant McCasland asked Tech fans to not have any derogatory chants towards BYU during today’s football game. pic.twitter.com/QYs1nJxyxq

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

All-blue for BYU on the road today in Lubbock. pic.twitter.com/QTfUB3bxEw

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Big opportunity for BYU and true freshman QB Bear Bachmeier. pic.twitter.com/UTVJyjddwl

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

The @CollegeGameDay crew and Patrick Mahomes make their final picks before BYU football kicks off against Texas Tech. pic.twitter.com/21RZFZA09m

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 8, 2025

First Quarter

LISTEN LIVE: @BYUfootball is on the road to battle @TexasTechFB in a top 10 showdown on @kslnewsradio and:https://t.co/vJlkxB5CAT pic.twitter.com/TBsgaUFMTq

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 8, 2025

Texas Tech’s vaunted defense controlled the opening series by owning the line of scrimmage.

BYU's first offensive drive featured a first-down run by LJ Martin, but not much after that.

Texas Tech's David Bailey is everywhere early on.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Siale Esera comes up with a third down sack! pic.twitter.com/jobrDa2hY5

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Siale Esera ended Texas Tech’s first drive with a third-down sack. It was the first sack of the year and the second of his career.

The critical stop was nullified when Parker Kingston muffed the kick, and it was recovered by the Red Raiders deep in BYU territory.

BYU's special teams is failing early in this game.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

BYU MUFFED PUNT 😱

Watch No. 7 BYU-No. 8 Texas Tech on ABC and the ESPN App ▶️ https://t.co/Nz7AG4DFyf pic.twitter.com/hGCLhayd78

— ESPN (@espn) November 8, 2025

BYU's defense is balling right now. Excellent stand after Texas Tech starts a drive inside the red zone.

Holding the Red Raiders to a field goal was a win.

Jack Kelly with a sack, Tausili Akana was also bringing pressure.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Texas Tech has (-24) total yards through two drives, but has an early 3-0 lead over BYU.

Turnovers.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

LJ Martin looks good early on.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Following a BYU punt, Behren Morton piloted a 12-play, 92-yard drive that ended with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Douglas.

Caleb Douglas snags a ball over Therrian Alexander III for the game’s first touchdown. Tre was also called for PI on the play. 10-0 Red Raiders.

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) November 8, 2025

End of 1st Quarter: Texas Tech 10, BYU 0

BYU has 10 carries for 45 yards through one quarter.

Bachmeier is 1-of-4 for one passing yard through the air.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Second Quarter

Excellent trick play execution by BYU's offense on third down.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Trying to find some momentum, BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick dialed up a trick play. LJ Martin took the direct snap before handing off to Bachmeir, who was rolling to his right.

The true freshman QB found Carsen Ryan for a first down gain.

That third-down play call, following the brilliant fake, was a head-scratcher.

Then BYU's special teams misses an opportunity for points.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

The drive ended with Will Ferrin missing a 51-yard field goal attempt following a Red Raider third-down sack.

Texas Tech came back with a 27-yard field goal to go up 13-0 with 8:08 left in the half.

Behren Morton limped off the field after an incompletion on third down.

BYU is very lucky to be down only 13-0.

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) November 8, 2025

BYU LB Jack Kelly looks a lot healthier than he did in Ames two weeks ago. He has been one of the few bright spots for BYU in an otherwise slow start.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Fourth down & one from their own 24, BYU goes for it and picks up the first down with a Bear Bachmeier run up the middle. Whoa. Gutsy call from BYU to go for it there.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Bear Bachmeier took big hit after big hit as the swarming Red Raider defense punished him every time Bachmeier left the pocket.

Texas Tech is erasing Bear's ability to run up the middle in the first half.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

BYU’s defense made a gigantic goal-line stand to keep Texas Tech out of the end zone. Raider Damuni forced a fourth-down incompletion in the end zone to end the half.

BYU's defense comes through once again.

Goal line stand to close out the first half.

Safety Raider Damuni with a pass breakup.

The Cougs have some momentum heading into the half.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

MAJOR fourth-down stop in the redzone for @BYUfootball before the halftime break ❌#Big12FB | 📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/VSSb2xstgT

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) November 8, 2025

Texas Tech had four trips to the Red Zone in the first half and only scored 13 points.

Jay Hill's crew showed up in Lubbock today.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

BYU's safeties stepped up on that final defensive series of the first half.

Faletau Satuala with an excellent open field tackle to prevent a touchdown.

Then Raider Damuni, in his first game back since Oct. 11, gets a PBU for a goal line stand to close out the half.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

BYU's linebackers in the first half against Texas Tech:

– Jack Kelly: 4 tackles, 2 sacks
– Isaiah Glasker: 5 tackles, 1 sack
– Siale Esera: 2 tackles, 1 sack

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Halftime: Texas Tech 13, BYU 0

First half stats pic.twitter.com/J1SxE7Ax0o

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Third Quarter

BYU defense forces Texas Tech into a three-and-out to open the third quarter.

Time for the offense to get something going.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

LJ didn't get a touch on BYU's first offensive series of the third quarter.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Texas Tech moved into BYU territory on its first drive of the half when Morton hit J’Koby Williams on a slant for a 25-yard gain. Tanner Wall dragged Williams down with a touchdown-saving tackle.

The drive ended with a 39-yard field goal.

BYU’s offensive ineptitude continued when Bachmeier threw an interception that set the Red Raiders up at the Cougar 22.

Interception. Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez is a heck of a player.

Tech fans start a "Heisman" chant after he picks off Bear Bachmeier.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Texas Tech 19, BYU 0 – 3:41, 3rd Quarter

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025

Fourth Quarter

BYU already needed something miraculous, but a Red Raider touchdown drive to open the fourth quarter put the game nearly out of reach at 26-0.

Beatdown.

Texas Tech 26, BYU 0 – 10:46, 4th

Red Raiders start chanting, "Overrated" here at Jones AT&T Stadium.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 8, 2025