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College GameDay hosts Rece Davis, Desmond Howard weigh in on Texas Tech football vs BYU
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- College GameDay hosts Rece Davis, Desmond Howard weigh in on Texas Tech football vs BYU
The Saturday, Nov. 8, matchup between the Texas Tech football team and Brigham Young is the only game on the FBS schedule this weekend between two top-10 teams and the first regular-season matchup of top-10 teams in the Big 12 since 2021.
That made Red Raiders vs. Cougars the choice for ESPN's College GameDay , the show's first visit to Lubbock for a football game since the 2008 game when then-No. 6 Tech beat No. 1 Texas. Saturday's game kicks off at 11 a.m. at Jones AT&T Stadium. 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.
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College GameDay airs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. Rece Davis and Desmond Howard, two of the show's hosts, met with the media on Friday near the GameDay set in the green space west of the stadium.
Here are highlights of their comments, edited in some instances for length.
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On the setting and atmosphere:
Davis:It's one of the more electric with participation places we've been to all year, I think because of the magnitude, the fact that GameDay hasn't been here in a number of years, the first top-10 game in the Big 12 in the regular season in four years, the first time BYU 's ever played in one.
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And then with Texas Tech, I keep hearing people throwing around the comparison to the Crabtree game in '08. That's pretty lofty praise, and whether you might say there's some differences because of the rivalry with Texas or whatever, that's probably true, but I think it gives you some insight into the magnitude of the game. There's a lot of excitement and it makes for a great scene for the show in the morning.
On the matchup between Texas Tech football and BYU :
Howard:What makes this year special to me is NIL, yeah. They (Texas Tech) went out bought a lot of talent, and so I think that talent is starting to pay off in pretty decent dividends, but this is the month we really figure out if your return on your investment is what you anticipated. Obviously, it's a big game tomorrow. I'm so excited about this matchup.
BYU, you know their brand of football. It's just a physical brand of football, starting a freshman quarterback in Bear Bachmeier , who has one of the coolest names in college football — Bear Bachmeier — and wears 47, so it kind of follows his name. They're going to be a physical unit and obviously the Red Raiders are very physical, too.
Red Raider fans walk in front of an ESPN College GameDay bus on the Texas Tech University campus on Nov. 7, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. The program will broadcast live on Saturday morning leading into the Red Raiders v. BYU Cougars football game.
On Texas Tech's scene for GameDay compared to other college campus visits:
Davis:I think I feel more anticipation here than ... Texas- Ohio State (site of a 2025 opener on Aug. 30) had a lot, because of two big brand names, Ohio State coming off a championship, all of that. So there was a lot there, but also, there was sort of the new. Everybody was anticipating the season. We've had a ton of big games, but boy, this one feels a little bit different, and it's exciting to be a part of.
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[Comparing to Columbus, Ohio, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, or Athens, Georgia]: There's something cool about the energy of being here for the first time ever or first time in a long time, that if we come back — which I would rather imagine wouldn't be 17 years — I hope we get this same energy , because this has been terrific."
On Texas Tech football compared to GameDay crew's last visit in 2008:
Howard:I'm just so excited that we're here for this matchup. I believe that the Red Raiders have earned this type of attention. I was in the facility yesterday and, first of all, incredible, incredible football facility. If you haven't been there, I strongly advise you guys go tour the facilities. It's outstanding, better than probably all NFL teams (have). (College GameDay celebrity guest picker) Patrick Mahomes is going to come in here like, 'What the hell are we dealing with back in KC?' It's a step down when he goes back to KC, trust me. ...
Like night and day. It's no comparison from then (2008) to now. NIL and the infusion of multimillions can do that for a program.
College GameDay analyst Desmond Howard talks to members of local and national media on the Texas Tech University campus on Nov. 7, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. The program will broadcast live on Saturday morning leading into the Red Raiders v. BYU Cougars football game.
Davis:We all say it, because it's true: They went into the portal. They spent a lot of money. Everybody says that. You look at the stars they got on defense and how well they evaluated.
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But the one thing I admire the most about that is the way they put a culture together. You watch them play, and you can see that. You can see the intensity and the competitive character they have in terms of wanting to play for each other, and that's not an easy thing to do And so that shows me that not only did they just go and get in the game financially; they did their homework about the type of guys they wanted to bring in, because this is not a mutually exclusive deal. Guys can make money and have unbelievable competitive character, and it seems to me ... from watching them all year and you watch the way they interact on the practice field, it appears they have put together a tremendous culture of guys who want to win games.
On whether Texas Tech football and BYU can become the two "bell cows" of the Big 12:
Howard:I don't want to make that comment yet. I don't have kneejerk reactions. A team may have a good season. That's not my style: 'Oh, yeah, this is going to be the best team for the next 10 years.' Because of NIL and because of transfer portal, rosters are ever-changing.
I don't know many of these guys are draft eligible and will they be here next year? Are they going to be able to go out there and bring in some of the same talent? It's really much more difficult, I think , nowadays, to be able to fill one of those rosters where you're gong to have guys there for three years or maybe — probably not four years — maybe three years so you can have that sort of success for multiple years.
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On Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez 's chances of being a contender for the Heisman Trophy:
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Davis:I'd love to sit here and pander to the fans and say it's realistic. I'd be very surprised. What you need in that position, you need wow plays. Sometimes at quarterback or even at running back, you can accumulate big numbers. I don't think accumulating tackles will do it. Now, you let him rip the ball out of (BYU quarterback Bear) Bachmeier's hands and score, intercept a pass and score and tackle everybody, then maybe something like that. I think at that position particularly, you need wow moments. (The) Butkus (Award), that's a different deal. Other defensive awards, those are different deals. But you're talking Heisman, you probably need something like that. I don't think it's very likely, but it's fun. It's fun to talk about.
College GameDay host Rece Davis talks to members of local and national media on the Texas Tech University campus on Nov. 7, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. The program will broadcast live on Saturday morning leading into the Red Raiders v. BYU Cougars football game.
Howard:As of right now, I don't have anybody on my Heisman list. I haven't been impressed with anybody to that level. What you're experiencing now, a lot of programs are trying to put their guys' names out there, so if they have a good game, then they have planted the seed and now everything else is fertilizing that seed. But as of right now, if I had to fill out my ballot, I may just leave it blank.
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You've got guys as quarterbacks, they may quality for the Johnny Unitas or the Davey O'Brien. You have running backs who may qualify for the Doak Walker, some receivers who may qualify for the Biletnikoff, but no one who I have seen so far that is like, 'OK, that guy should be mentioned in the same breath as the Heisman. Not yet.
But we've still got a good month of football left. These are some of the most marquee matchups, and you want to play your best football in the month of November against the best competition, because that's what helps you separate yourself as a potential Heisman candidate.
On Raiderville, the weeklong student campout outside Jones AT&T Stadium that grew to more than 2,000:
More: Raiderville filled with fun, some studying and plenty of hype for Texas Tech, BYU football
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Davis:That's what makes this sport great. You don't get this anywhere except college sports. I know they have K-Ville at Duke for basketball. I think football's a little bit different, man. I mean, to get jacked up for a game like this and show up Sunday to get in, Tuesday to start lining up for GameDay, I applaud the university for students didn't have to choose. I guess some of the ones in line for GameDay will have access to get good seats for the game.
I mean, it's really special. You just don't get that in a lot of sports and [I'm] really, really pleased to be part of it. It's great that they want to come out and showcase that on our show, because I never lose sight of the fact — I hope they enjoy our show — we really want to entertain them and have a great time with them. But I think there's a big part of it, like, 'Hey man, you're in Lubbock. We love Texas Tech. We're proud of our school. We're proud of our city. We're proud of our team. we're gong to show you all of that.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Rece Davis, Desmond Howard weigh in on Texas Tech football vs BYU
