There is more than just a Big 12 championship trophy on the line when Texas Tech and BYU meet for the second time in Arlington, Texas. The Red Raiders would secure a first-round bye with a win. Meanwhile, BYU is fighting for its playoff life. Because of the playoff committee\u2019s penultimate rankings slotting the Cougars at 11, they must win this game, or they will be out of the playoffs. What kind of adjustments will Kalani Sitake and Joey McGuire have for each other in round two of this Big 12 heavyweight fight?<\/p>\n
When these two teams met the first time in Lubbock<\/a>, it was one of the few times this season that BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier<\/a> looked like a true freshman. He turned the ball over twice and was 23-for-38 passing for only 188 yards. BYU, which ranks second in the Big 12 and 23rd<\/sup> nationally in rushing offense, couldn\u2019t run the ball against the Red Raider defense (67 yards). How can BYU change the script in the Big 12 championship? They have to find a solution against one of the nation\u2019s top defenses that ranks tied for second with 27 takeaways and third with only 11.3 points allowed.<\/p>\n It is noteworthy that running LJ Martin<\/a> was banged up leading into the game. He only had 10 rushing attempts in the game after getting injured the week prior against Iowa State (he only had five rushing attempts). In the other six Big 12 games, BYU has had a healthy Martin in the backfield; he has carried it no less than 21 times in each of those games. The Cougar offense must run through him.<\/p>\n Even if the rushing game struggles early, they must stay committed to it. Texas Tech only sacked Bachmeier one time in their first matchup. But that doesn\u2019t illustrate how much pressure he was under. When the Red Raiders didn\u2019t have to worry about the running game, Bachmeier had little time to operate. Additionally, this team needs to be aware of where Heisman candidate Jacob Rodriguez<\/a> is on the field at all times. In their last matchup, he had 14 total tackles and an interception.<\/p>\n Just like BYU, Texas Tech had its own major offensive contributor at less than 100%. Quarterback Behren Morton<\/a> was noticeably immobile when facing the pass rush from the BYU defense. And yet, even with Morton being limited, the offense moved the ball well against the BYU defense that ranks in the top 30 in total defense. What kept this game close for much of the game on the scoreboard was the lack of touchdowns in the red zone. Texas Tech got the ball inside BYU\u2019s 20 six times and had a drive stall out on BYU\u2019s 21-yard line. Of those seven possessions, only two resulted in two touchdowns. It has been an issue that has been a sore subject for most of the season.<\/p>\nRed Raider Redzone Woes Repeat?<\/strong><\/h3>\n