How ESPN College GameDay crew picked BYU-Texas Tech football showdown

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How ESPN College GameDay crew picked BYU-Texas Tech football showdown

The ESPN College GameDay crew picked the Texas Tech football team across the board to beat Brigham Young on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

The Red Raiders moved to a 13 1/2-point favorite on game day.

GameDay hosts Desmond Howard, Nick Saban and Pat McAfee all picked the Red Raiders. So did guest picker Patrick Mahomes, the former Texas Tech quarterback now of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Brigham Young goes in 8-0 this season, 5-0 in the Big 12 and No. 7 in this week’s first edition of the College Football Playoff rankings. Texas Tech is 8-1, 5-1 and No. 8 in the CFP.

“I’ve been riding with the Red Raiders from day one,” Howard said. “I’m not jumping off the bandwagon. Let’s go, Texas Tech.”

Howard then gave a Guns Up hand sign, looked across at Mahomes, and asked, “Is this what y’all do? … Guns Up.”

Saban said it was a matchup of the two best teams in the Big 12, adding that they might meet again in the Big 12 championship on the first Saturday in December.

“But I think playing at home with this kind of energy in their own stadium, I think Texas Tech’s going to win it all the way,” said Saban, the former Alabama coach.

ESPN personality Pat McAfee talks during College GameDay as Nick Saban looks on, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

McAfee said, “Seemingly everything that is right about this current NIL transfer portal era is happening right here in Lubbock, Texas.”

McAfee stood up on set and vigorously shook a Saddle Tramp bell in picking Texas Tech.

Mahomes said, “The energy in Lubbock is amazing. The football team’s had a great year. I’m looking forward to the Red Raider defense showing the country what they’ve been doing all year. Jacob Rodriguez, give Heisman votes to him with all of the Guns Up and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.”

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: How ESPN College GameDay crew picked BYU-Texas Tech football showdown

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