In just three years as a member of the Big 12, BYU has risen near the top at different times in both football and basketball. They have notched solid victories against virtually every program, either on the hardwood or the football field in quickly establishing the Cougars as a major conference contender, regardless of the sport.
That is, except, for Texas Tech.
The Cougars three-year history as Big 12 members with the Red Raiders has been mostly full of Ls for the Cougs.
Over the last three years BYU is 0-4 against Texas Tech in basketball. The Cougars lost their previous matchup earlier this season in Lubbock. BYU came into the game on a 13-game winning streak and was ranked No. 11 as they went on the road to face the No. 15 Red Raiders. A BYU victory in this game would have been the ultimate validation that the Cougars were legitimate contenders on the national stage.
Instead, BYU got run out of Lubbock, getting absolutely blitzed over the last five minutes of the game to lose 84-71.
And let's not forget BYU's fraught history against Tech in football.
In 2023, BYU's first season in the Big 12, the Cougars actually beat Texas Tech in Provo and the win was one of just two conference wins for Kalani Sitake's squad that year. Take that, Texas Tech!
After the two teams didn't play in 2024 they had two massively important football games last year that ultimately defined BYU's season, and not in a good way. Without opening old wounds, let's just say had BYU won their first matchup the Cougars likely make the College Football Playoffs, and had they won their second game the Cougs would have been Big 12 champs. Texas Tech was the only obstacle standing between BYU football and the CFP, and the obstacle was insurmountable.
While BYU and Texas Tech fans online seem to have a lot of mutual respect, it's fair to say that if there's one team in the Big 12 Cougar fans would love to see fall, it's the Red Raiders. There's a lot of energy among the BYU faithful to knock Tech down a peg or two, but doing with respect toward a more than worthy budding rival.
A win on Saturday night wouldn't only be satisfying, it would be cathartic.
What to expect from Texas Tech
BYU fans are already familiar with Texas Tech since they played earlier this season, so we can keep this pretty short.
The Red Raiders are 22-8, ranked No. 10 nationally, and No. 14 in Kenpom. Their offense ranks 10th nationally and their defense is 31st, so there are no real weak spots on this balanced, effective team.
Tech lost leading scorer JT Toppin to an ACL tear a little over two weeks ago and are 3-2 without their star player, including dropping their last game 73-65 at home to TCU. The Red Raiders are an incredible team, but they are at least somewhat vulnerable without Toppin. BYU, however, is even more vulnerable without Richie Saunders who was also lost to an ACL tear and the team has looked lost without their senior leader.
As s team, the Red Raiders shoot 39.4% from the 3-point line, something that strikes fear into the hearts of BYU fans as they've watched the Cougars defense only be casually aware of the 3-point line over the last several games. If BYU doesn't lock in on defense -- and they haven't as of late -- it could be another long day against a Texas Tech program that seems to have the Cougars number.
But if BYU could somehow pull off an upset victory, it would be the ultimate revenge game in a budding multi-sport rivalry against a conference foe.