Texas Tech Red Raiders: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Tuesday Takes: Texas Tech’s Dominance, BYU’s Snub, and More!

Welcome to Tuesday Takes, where I give you four takes from the Big 12. It was a jam-packed weekend full of action, but here were several things that caught my attention from this past weekend.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Holiday Wish No. 17 for Texas Tech Fans

This holiday wish is unique because it discusses the effect of athletic department funding, especially for the football program, and whether it will continue at its current pace.

Texas Tech Red Raiders News / ESPN / December 8

Texas Tech LB Rodriguez wins top defender award

Texas Tech senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has won the Bronko Nagurski Award given annually to the nation's top college defensive player.

Texas Tech Red Raiders News / Texas Tech Red Raiders on SI / December 8

Wish No. 18 for Red Raider Fans This Holiday Season

Most, if not all, Texas Tech fans are having a fantastic week and a wonderful December because the Red Raiders' athletic teams are on a roll with numerous victories these past weeks.

Texas Tech Red Raiders News / New Baseball Media / December 8

2025 Fall College Baseball Reset: Texas Tech

In 2025, the Texas Tech Red Raiders finished with a below-.500 record. While it was a mostly good year for the offense, Texas Tech didn’t get the reciprocal results from the pitching staff.

Texas Tech Red Raiders News / Texas Tech Red Raiders on SI / December 7

Holiday Wish No. 19 for Texas Tech Fans

Texas Tech fans are thrilled this season, as their football team is in the college football playoffs, the Lady Raiders are undefeated in basketball with a 10-0 record, and the men's basketball team defeated previously unbeaten LSU this past weekend.

Texas Tech Red Raiders News / Texas Tech Red Raiders on SI / December 7

Playoff-Bound Texas Tech Headed to Orange Bowl, Secures 1st-Round Bye

The best season in program history is not over yet for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. After winning the Big 12 Championship Game, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee ranked the scarlet and black fourth in the final rankings, setting them up for a trip to Florida for the Orange Bowl.

Texas Tech Red Raiders News / Heartland College Sports / December 7

Texas Tech Earns Four-Seed in College Football Playoff

Texas Tech fans, go ahead and fire up the playoff posters. It’s official. The Red Raiders have earned the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff and will get a first-round bye.

Texas Tech Red Raiders News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Big 12 football championship winners' quiz

How many of the teams to win the Big 12 football championship game can you name in five minutes?

College Football News / Yardbarker / December 7

BYU HC calls for fair process in CFP rankings after Big 12 title loss

For the No. 11 Brigham Young Cougars (11-2), their 34-7 loss in the Big 12 Championship Game to the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-1) could knock them out of the 12-team tournament.

CFB Week 15 winners, losers: Indiana is nation's best team entering CFP

Alabama should not be in CFP after SEC Championship no-show

The all-time college football service academy team

The 'College football color teams' quiz

College Football News / Gridiron Heroics / December 6

Texas Tech Red Raiders Clinch CFP Spot with Big 12 Championship

The Texas Tech Red Raiders have been the first of the Power Four conferences to get the automatic bid for the College Football Playoff. The team was able to control things throughout the day as the fourth-ranked team won the Big 12 Championship 34-7.

Texas Tech Red Raiders News / Bleacher Report / December 6

Watch: Kalani Sitake wants a 3rd shot at Texas Tech

Texas Tech Red Raiders News / Texas Tech Red Raiders on SI / December 6

Red Raiders Win Big 12 Championship Game, Making History Against BYU

The crowd was a sea of red. While Arlington, Texas, is not home for the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders, it's not too far — and they quickly made themselves feel comfortable as the crowd popped at every swing.

Joey Mcguire News / Heartland College Sports / December 6

Joey McGuire Makes a Pitch to Selection Committee for BYU

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire didn’t have to say anything about BYU. He just beat them 34-7 in the Big 12 Championship Game. His team’s in the College Football Playoff.

Texas Tech Red Raiders News / CFB-HQ on SI / December 6

Predicting the College Football Playoff after Texas Tech beats BYU for the Big 12 title

Defense wins championships, they say. That was true of Texas Tech, whose dominant unit overwhelmed BYU behind two key takeaways to win the Big 12 Championship Game and book the Red Raiders a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.