Three Things We Learned From BYU’s First Loss

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

BYU got whooped by Texas Tech on Saturday in Lubbock. The Red Raiders flexed their muscles and depth in the 29-7 rout.

Still, this puts BYU at 8-1. They have everything still in front of them, minus a perfect season. They still control their own destiny to make it to Arlington for the Big 12 Championship Game. Still, a loss like that is cause for pause.

Let’s discuss what the Cougars learned.

Texas Tech is not only the best Big 12 team, they should be considered a national title contender

Let’s just get this out of the way now. Texas Tech is good, like really good. They are one of the best teams in college football, regardless of conference. They are in position to run the table and perhaps get a bye in the College Football Playoff. There was a clear gap in depth and even coaching in this game. Texas Tech did almost whatever they wanted. This will be a serious contender come late December and January.

BYU’s passing game got exposed

Two things can be true.

First, Texas Tech’s defense is one of the best, if not the best in the entire country. Any offense is going to struggle against them. Secondly, BYU had a poor gameplan to combat it once Texas Tech starting putting them on their heels. Aaron Roderick and company adjusted poorly. Bear Bachmeier is still a true freshman and the Red Raiders made him look it. He set a new career high with four turnover-worthy plays, per Pro Football Focus. That also was the most of any Big 12 quarterback.

The gameplan to try and combat the defense was puzzling. Roderick called too many short, quick passes when BYU needed bigger yards. The Cougars offense went into a shell when it needed to be aggressive. Bachmeier’s average depth of target last weekend was nearly an entire yard shorter than his season average.

Four drops also killed BYU, including two from Chase Roberts. Bachmeier got very little help on Saturday.

This isn’t to say BYU has a bad passing game or that Bachmeier isn’t good anymore. But clearly, there are some issue to clean up before this passing attack can fly high again.

BYU’s defense is elite but can only do so much when offense is nonexistent

There was a point in the game where Texas Tech had six red zone trips and just 19 points to show for it, out of a possible 42 points had the Red Raiders scored touchdowns on each trip. BYU’s red zone defense stepped up for the first three quarters and did their part in trying to keep BYU in the game.

Any elite defense will eventually wear down when the offense’s first eight drives end in punt, punt, missed field goal, punt, punt, punt, interception, and punt. This was still just a two-score game until late in the third quarter.

BYU’s linebacker duo of Isaiah Glasker and Jack Kelly is truly special. They combined for 17 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks. Cornerback Evan Johnson allowed just a 68.8 passer rating when facing five targets.

It’s clear that BYU’s defense can rise to the occasion. They held Texas Tech to roughly 100 yards and 13 points less than their season average.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos