Arlington, Texas • BYU wide receiver Chase Roberts called his shot after the Cougars were thumped by Texas Tech three weeks ago.
“We’re going to meet them again. Promise you that,” the senior said after that 29-7 drubbing. “And we’re gonna go beat ‘em.”
Roberts got his wish. But BYU didn’t back it up.
With its second crack at the No. 4 team in the country, BYU not only lost but looked even further outclassed by the Red Raiders.
The Cougars lost 34-7 in the Big 12 title game, falling flat in the program’s biggest moment in decades.
Tech nearly doubled BYU’s total yardage and turned over quarterback Bear Bachmeier three times.
The freshman signal caller was hobbled most of the game after suffering an ankle injury early in the first quarter. As he struggled to move, Bachmeier threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the second half. Running back LJ Martin added a fumble of his own to bring BYU’s turnover total to four.
Each time, Texas Tech capitalized on the Cougars’ mistakes. It punched in a touchdown with an 11-yard carry by Cameron Dickey in the third quarter. It later piled on three field goals off of BYU’s short fields in the fourth quarter.
But even without the turnovers, the Cougars again looked helpless on offense. After an opening 90-yard touchdown drive, BYU barely amassed over 100 yards the rest of the game.
Martin had the Cougars’ lone touchdown and 107 of BYU’s 200 total yards.
Bachmeier couldn’t push the ball downfield, relying on quick bubble screens to combat Tech’s pass rush. BYU only had three passes of 15-plus yards — and one came on a screen pass.
Bachmeier finished 16-of-27 passing for 115 yards. It was the lowest offensive output in his career when playing a full game.
And just like three weeks ago in Lubbock, BYU’s defense eventually wore down as the offense couldn’t stay on the field.
The Red Raiders scored 21 points after halftime and delivered the final blow on a 28-yard touchdown pass where an exhausted defense missed several tackles.
Tech finished with close to 400 yards and 19 first downs.
The loss likely eliminates BYU from the College Football Playoff.
At 11-2, the Cougars’ probable bowl destinations are either the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando or the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.