December 04, 2025

Is Culture the SECRET Ingredient Behind BYU & Texas Tech's Surging to the Top of Big 12? | Title Game Preview & Predictions | Locked On Crossover

37 minutes

BYU and Texas Tech collide on similar trajectories, staking their claim as the premier programs in the Big 12. Can Kalani Sitake’s loyalty to BYU—and Joey McGuire’s culture-driven rise at Texas Tech—help their squads overcome conference doubters and playoff snubs? Jake Hatch and Chris Level unpack how both schools’ high-profile coaching contract extensions and innovative NIL commitments are rewriting the expectations for success in college football. With the specter of Penn State’s heavy recruitment of Sitake and the ongoing “house settlement” revenue share negotiations, both programs send a clear message: they’re here to contend at the highest level and invest whatever it takes—on and off the field.

The hosts go deep on roster dynamics and tactical Xs and Os, spotlighting key playmakers like BYU’s LJ Martin and Bear Bachmeier, plus Texas Tech’s resilient quarterback Behren Morton, who’s battled through a fractured fibula to keep the Red Raiders on top. They break down the significance of “culture” over mere financial muscle, contrasting these teams’ homegrown chemistry against Big 12 and national programs that have fizzled despite deep pockets. Expect commentary on the art of recruiting, development, and the intangibles that turn good teams into true championship threats.

Matchups and momentum shift into focus as Jake Hatch and Chris Level analyze how BYU’s aggressive first-down blitzing—engineered by Jay Hill—forces opponents out of rhythm, and why both teams’ defensive approaches could dictate the game’s outcome. Will BYU’s offense spread the field with quick throws to playmakers like Chase Roberts and Jojo Phillips, or will the ground-and-pound attack featuring LJ Martin take center stage? On the Texas Tech sideline, Jacob Rodriguez’s wildcat packages and red zone creativity are under the microscope, especially after the Red Raiders’ earlier struggles inside the 20.

High stakes loom as AT&T Stadium gears up for a record-breaking crowd and a legacy-defining clash. Can BYU shake the specter of College Football Playoff politics and redeem last season’s snub, or will Texas Tech’s Dallas-Fort Worth roots, defensive discipline, and hostile environment secure a Big 12 title? Experience a comprehensive, insider breakdown of the most anticipated conference championship game of the year.

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Jake Hatch brings you daily coverage of the BYU Cougars with the Locked On Cougars Podcast. Locked On Cougars brings BYU fans the latest news and comprehensive coverage when it comes to the BYU football and basketball programs as well as a look at the other teams in the BYU athletic department. Jake gives you his unique insights and insider information about the Cougs as they continue "on the trail to fame and glory" every weekday, along with interviews with players, coaches, experts, and alumni that you will not find anywhere else.

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