Time is now for BYU to prove it belongs in the top 10

If there’s ever a time when the BYU football team is in a bad mood heading into a big game, this Saturday’s game in Arlington, Texas, might be one of them. This is the Cougar version of Atlas carrying the sky.

New head coach Kalani Sitake gave his team all the fodder for a rousing speech about why they need to beat heavily favored Texas Tech in the rematch of the Big 12 Tournament.

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List?

ESPN threw shade at them on the CFP show. Not even Comparative Achievements or the BYU logo displayed.

The CFP committee ranks the Cougars at No. 11, the only P4 or P5 team in modern history to rack up 11 wins but be left out of the top 10.

In Lubbock, the first week of November, “College Game Day” in town, BYU choked. Lost 29-7. No one made them forget this embarrassment.

TT is undefeated and ranked seventh in the CFP rankings, but BYU’s loss dropped BYU five spots to No. 12. Texas A&M plays one of the weakest conference schedules in the SEC, falling from No. 3 to No. 7 last week with a loss to Texas, which has lost three straight.

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Freshman Bear Bachmeier, a seven-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week and just named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, is not a finalist for the 2025 Sean Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, as the other finalists are in their second years, and Bear didn’t even attend BYU spring practice.

Disrespectful. shade. Prejudice against steroids.

Sitake can deliver such a speech. He certainly has the ability to point out injustice before kickoff. One of his mentors, Kyle Whittingham, would use it as the basis for the Gettysburg Address.

But even so, it may not be enough.

Texas Tech is just that good. Maybe the Raiders are the only team that can beat Indiana and Ohio State — Joey McGwire’s defense is just that good.

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“This is one of the best defensive lines I’ve ever coached, if not the best,” BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick commented.

Sitake probably won’t have to give much of a speech. His players are mature enough to remember what they felt in Lubbock. What’s there? What disappeared from them? Bile in the mouth, disappointment, moments of loss.

However, when ESPN and the CFP committee downplayed the Big 12 this week, something interesting unfolded.

A group of national voices are speaking out.

The Big 12 championship game at AT&T Stadium is not only a sold-out Saturday between No. 4 Texas Tech and the Cougars, but it’s also expected to break the league’s playoff attendance record (84,523 in 2023).

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This may be the most attended game ever in the conference. The previous record was held by the 2023 game between Texas and Oklahoma State.

So, how does BYU reverse the results from its last attempt to beat Tech?

Start by winning the turnover war. TT won the last match 3-0.

Get started quickly. Wake up. The Red Raiders outscored their opponents 164 to 13 in the first quarter. This is disgusting. BYU was outscored just 78-65 in the first quarter, including giving up a head-scratching 14-0 lead in last Saturday’s Senior Day home game.

Don’t weaken punts, calf punts or drop the ball like you did in Lubbock.

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Allowing L.J. Martin, Bachmeier and Sione Moa to rush for a combined 150 yards. Give Bachmeier and his receivers at least 180 yards passing.

Once again, Tech’s offense was limited to a ton of field goals with great red zone defense.

Let BYU’s offensive line win some battles and attack TT’s secondary with more enthusiasm than what was seen in Lubbock.

In other words, play more like BYU did in its 11 wins. Taking advantage of a neutral site, no wind, and an energetic crowd somehow put the TT in an uncomfortable position to face some pressure and adversity.

Is the task big?

Yes, it’s a lot to ask, but it can be done, starting with winning the turnover battle.

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McGwire led the Raiders on a strong run. Still, he respects his league and BYU and what 11-1 means to both teams.

“There’s no question, no matter what happens on Saturday, we should be in the playoffs. I think we’ve earned it… We’re as good as anybody in the country and we’re going to have a good game,” McGwire said.

If BYU thinks it belongs in the Top Ten and CFP, now is the time to prove it. Practice what you preach.

If BYU wins, they’re in it, no matter what political brand bias CFP and ESPN seem to have.