Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez indicated he was somewhat coerced by teammates into striking a Heisman Trophy pose in another dominating defensive performance by the ninth-ranked Red Raiders.

The national sports spotlight was on Lubbock Saturday, as ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast took the stage outside and in Jones Stadium.

The last time a linebacker at Texas Tech was such a household name was when an undersized Hall of Famer from Pampa named Zach Thomas was making the calls. And during a historic win for the Red Raiders, Rodriguez's defense played one of the best games of the season.

The calendar year of 2025 has been insane for Texas Tech athletics. Between football, softball and basketball, it's exhausting, but so rewarding.

Stone Harrington kicked a school-record five field goals and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had two takeaways as the No. 9 Red Red Raiders beat eighth-ranked BYU 29-7.

America forward JT Toppin scored 31 points and had 14 rebounds in his season debut to lead five players scoring in double figures for No. 10 Texas Tech as the Red Raiders beat Sam Houston 98-77.

Texas Tech's 29-7 destruction of BYU gets the Red Raiders back on track as leaders of the Big 12 and puts the Cougars' upcoming game against Cincinnati as a potential winner-take-all chance to play the Joey McGuire's team in the conference title game.