John Kurtz Decides If Texas Tech, BYU Are No Longer the Big 12 Teams to Beat After Week One

Both BYU and Texas Tech have forcefully transitioned from conference dark horses into elite heavyweights dictating the entire landscape of the Big 12. Texas Tech: The New Apex Predator Under Joey McGuire, the Red Raiders have evolved into a terrifying blend of high-octane West Texas offense and suffocating, statistically elite defense. Fresh off capturing a historic Big 12 title, Texas Tech enters the season sitting firmly at the top of the conference power rankings. Their defensive identity is built on structural violence in the trenches—anchored by a unit that led the entire FBS in takeaways (32) and stifled opponents to a national-best 68.1 rushing yards per game. With sellout crowds packing Jones AT&T Stadium and a reloaded roster featuring critical portal additions alongside foundational playoff returners, the Red Raiders are no longer just an entertaining storyline; they are the undisputed benchmark of the league. BYU: Culture, Continuity, and Contention Kalani Sitake has turned BYU into a machine of relentless consistency, coming off a stunning 12-win campaign that captured the nation's attention. The Cougars' dominance starts with a lethal offensive engine led by quarterback Bear Bachmeier and game-breaking running back LJ Martin, seamlessly orchestrating a balanced, explosive scheme that dismantled Utah Tech out of the gate. What makes BYU terrifying is their developmental pipeline—young playmakers like freshman weapon Legend Glasker stepping into immediate stardom proves the roster doesn't rebuild; it simply reloads. When you combine Texas Tech’s suffocating defensive teeth with BYU’s disciplined, high-velocity execution, these two programs represent the absolute gold standard of the modern Big 12. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! KALSHI For a limited time, Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10. SupplyHouse Visit https://SupplyHouse.com/TM to learn more about becoming a Trade Master. Use promo code S H Five College for five percent off your first order. SupplyHouse. Real people. Real service. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Square Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/COLLEGE ! #squarepod LARINECO Give Larine a try. Right now, Larine Co is offering our listeners up to 50% off at https://BUYLARINE.com/LOCKEDONCOLLEGE. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. 5-Hour ENERGY Bring on the sweetness with Cotton Candy 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots—available online now at https:/5hourENERGY.com or on Amazon. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Make this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.