Jacob Rodriguez helps Texas Tech win Big 12 title
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Carlos Leon-Trejo, Contributor
- December 6, 2025
Jacob Rodriguez has game-high 13 tackles
ARLINGTON, Texas — As Jacob Rodriguez looked into the stands Saturday morning, the Butkus Award winner was in awe. He couldn’t believe what he saw at AT&T Stadium during the Big 12 Championship Game.
The stands were filled in a sea of Texas Tech red, and those Red Raiders fans rewarded the fans with the program’s first conference title in 70 years.
“It was unrealI,” Rodriguez said. “I think it was right before we went out for our first drive as a defense. We’re kind of looking out. I want to get the crowd pumped up. And you look at what direction you want to get them pumped up in.
“And I’m looking at 80 percent, 90 percent of the stadium is wearing red. That’s huge to see. I know Red Raiders always travel well, and they’ve always had our back. It was great to see and great to hear.”
Ending 70-year championship drought
For the first time in program history, the Red Raiders became Big 12 champions. They made it look easy while beating BYU 34-7 in front of a raucous crowd of 85,519. The title is the 12th conference football championship in the Red Raiders’ program history and their first outright title since they won the Border Conference crown in 1955.
Junior linebacker Ben Roberts and Rodriguez set the tone for the defense. Roberts was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player after he had two interceptions.
Rodriguez, the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and the defensive Most Outstanding Player, had a game-high 13 tackles. Rodriguez was one tackle shy of tying the Big 12 Championship.
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“These guys up here really helped us put this team together,” Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said. “You have Jacob Rodriguez, who slept on the floor as a walk-on (transfer) to be a Red Raider.
“Ben Roberts, he actually told me, I recruited him, and he committed to Tech. I was at the other school, and he said, ‘Coach, I love you, man, but I’m a Red Raider no matter what. Whether you’re the coach or not, I’m going to be a Red Raider.’”
Although running back LJ Martin later broke free for a 10-yard touchdown to help give the Cougars a 7-0 lead, the Red Raiders silenced BYU after the first quarter.
Stone Harrington put the Red Raiders on the board with a 23-yard field goal to open the second quarter. Quarterback Behren Morton connected with wide receiver Coy Eakin on a 33-yard touchdown pass to the right sideline to give Tech the lead for good. Harrington added another 40-yard field goal before halftime, sending the Raiders into the locker room ahead 13-7.
Double trouble
Rodriguez pressured quarterback Bear Bachmeier into a hurried throw that was intercepted by Roberts. Cameron Dickey’s 11-yard touchdown run. Morton’s two-point conversion pass to Terrance Carter extended the lead to 21-7.
Tech’s defense continued to dominate. Linebacker Anthony Holmes Jr. forced a fumble on Bachmeier, leading to Harrington’s 44-yard field goal. Roberts’s second interception was a one-handed grab. He returned it 11 yards to set up a scoring opportunity.
“About the hops, I didn’t think I jumped that high,” Roberts said. “I’ve been practicing. I’ve been practicing that one hand in practice, and it finally paid off.”
Morton found Eakin for a 28-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 31-7. A final fumble recovery by defensive lineman Jayden Cofield led to Harrington’s 28-yard field goal to cap the scoring. While the Red Raiders held the Big 12 Championship trophy to celebrate, Rodriguez looked into the AT&T Stadium stands. This time, he was looking for his wife Emma Rodriguez.
“I really just kind of wanted to celebrate with her,” Jacob Rodriguez. “She’s meant so much to me in the 2 1/2 years we’ve been married. I think I really just kind of wanted to spend a moment with her and get to celebrate with her because of how much work she’s put in this year with supporting me and being right there. She’s such a rock for me. And I’m just so thankful that she could be here for this.”
Carlos Leon-Trejo
Contributor
Carlos Leon-Trejo is a co-host on the Bring on the Blitz! podcast on the Our Esquina network. A graduate of the Texas A&M-Victoria, his reporting credits include major stages such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Big 12 Championship.
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