A l L North Salt Lake, ESPN seven hundred and ninety two to one a f M stream US live on ESPN seven hundred, Sports dot Com.

Trevor Riley Today former Live in studio during the four o'clock hour.

Little known fact Trevor was recruited by Mike Leach to play college football Texas Tech in Lubbock.

And I believe we go live to Lubbock now.

Boots on the Ground.

Correct, Spencer Lynton b YU TV.

How are you my friend?

Let's go?

Can you remembered my lead up song?

Spence?

Can I tell you how much I appreciate your attention to detail with Rage against the Machine?

You know, I'm all about to walk up songs on this program.

And when my guy Martin, who's filling in, asked me, you know what is Spencer's walk up song?

I remember that you like a little rage.

We're close to the same age.

Nothing gets you through the end of a workout like a rage song.

It's so true and I need it for my workout in Lubbock.

Yes, Boots on the Ground, bro, just hanging out in my hotel room.

I just got back from campus and kind of taking into sits and sounds of ESPN College Game Day and they're set up and did a live hour show myself in front of the stadium for the Red Raiders, and yeah, the scene, the scene is, it's hype, no doubt about it.

Tech Tech fans are confident, understandably so with that defense and the way things are going for them.

But yeah, this is this is a unique deal, to say the least.

The build up and the eyeballs and College Game Day and the fact that BULI gets the prime treatment with a lead in to the game from College Game Day of sorts and Chris Faller and Kirk Curvesheet.

On the call.

This is a huge day for the conference, frankly, just to hopefully show out and put on the competitive fun products.

Yeah, first top ten matchup in conference playing a number of different years.

And you know, I've been trying to provide a little context here and I'm just going to let you do it for me.

And it's weird to talk about this with a program that's won a national championship and it's won a grip of conference titles and has had a lot of big wins both in bowl games in the regular season.

Could this be the biggest game in the history of BYU football.

Is there any chance that it is.

It's crazy that we are having that conversation and a totally fair question by you and everyone else.

I know that sometimes we get lost in the moment and caught up in since the bias.

But the fact that BYU has never played a game where they have been ranked in the top ten and the opponent has been ranked in the top ten ever is wild.

So that alone puts it into an upper echelon.

And I think the closest ba's ever been to that is probably the Cotton Bowl when by was number five in Kansas State was number fourteen, or maybe even in nineteen eighty six when when BA was eleventh and Washington was number seven.

But it's crazy, like even the best BYU Utah game as far as ranking goes in eight, when that Utah team was so tough, and I think they were number eight and ba's number sixteen.

Point is it just it hasn't ever happened this way.

So the fact that it's the first ever top ten showdown on both sides in BYU history takes it there.

Now.

If BAU loses this game, I know that the BA fans are going to be like, well, that definitely wasn't one of the biggest games ever, but it.

Still should be.

It's just because of all of the eyeballs and everything means to the both schools and the conference and is now in the Power for conference for just the third year, and just the moment seems very very big.

Now.

If BAU wins this game, gosh like the hype will go to another stratosphere, and then the conversation about BYU being a legitimate college football playoff team and a potential Big twelve champion definitely gains a lot of validity.

But if I'm pulling back a curtain fully, I don't I think by you should feel confident going in that with two weeks of preparation and getting some rest and some key players back.

But I do totally understand why they are a clear underdog here.

Now ten and a half.

Feels like a lot.

But if this game ended thirty one to twenty one, would anybody be surprised in favor of Texas Tech.

No.

I just hope that for BYU's sake and the conference's sake, the Cougars can show up with that additional preparation and put a good product on the field and not have it turn into this runaway like it did at Rice Ecles, because I think it's little unfair to Utah.

Like most people don't remember it was a three point game with eight minutes left in the game, was it not?

Like, correct me if I'm wrong.

It was close.

So I hated that the score was lopsided because it didn't feel like it was that game the entire time.

Yeah, it was a rock fight until it wasn't.

And that's just I mean, the final score is the final score, and your fear is the College Football Committee just looks at that score.

College Football Playoff Committee just looks at that score and says they romped them.

But I don't think they did because Utah.

You know, you know what the committee told us on Tuesday, Spencer is they like BYU and they like Texas Tech, and therefore they like Utah too because they're not penalizing them for those two losses.

So just kind of like they it felt like they looked at Tech loss without their starting quarterback and they issue with Sam Levin said, Okay, we're not necessarily going to penalize you too much.

So yes, the final score is the final score.

You can't run from that.

But I don't think Utah has been penalized on a superpunitive level because the committee said they like BYU and Texas Tech as well.

Yeah, yes, And I thought it was fascinating when Utah showed up at number thirteen.

Immediately I was thinking, Okay, well, clearly the analytics are so good on Utah and Utah has been so dominant in their wins outside of the two losses to Texas Tech and BYU that this is this is great, This is great for the conference.

Yeah, you'd like to have more teams from the Big Twelve in the top twenty five, but if your three are number thirteen, number eight, number seven, gosh, and compared to the ACC are you kidding me?

That was about as great as any Big twelve fan or even by Utah fans could have hoped for with pushing to the CFP.

Because I don't know how you feel spenced, so I'm gonna throw a question back at you, But like, there's a legitimate case that if Utah just continues to dominate the way that they have in their remaining games and they win big and they take care of business against Baylor in Kansas, State and hold Serve there, and then let's say BYU loses a close game to Texas Tech, but then they went out and Texas Tech wins out.

We're talking about a scenario where all three teams could be ranked in the top eleven or twelve, and now we're not just so good about getting two Big twelve teams into the playoff bracket, an outside shot that all three could if that scenario that I presented happened.

Now, how likely is that?

I don't know.

That's where my question is for you.

How likely of.

That scenario playing out?

Do you feel like is a thing right now?

Well, not super likely.

But the fact that it's mid November and we can talk about all of them in the mix is a really really good sign.

Because last year, the first iterations of the CFP rankings come out and we're all kind of like, oh dude, they don't like the Big twelve.

They're telling us that the Big twelve champ is in and that's all.

And the fact that we have three teams legitimately in the mix is an excellent sign.

So, you know, the other thing, they would certainly have to like Texas has a couple of really tough games, and you know there are a lot of Texas doubters.

The nice thing about you know, people get up in arms about the first iteration of the CFP.

So if you think Texas is a fraud, they will be exposed.

If you think they're legit, they're going to play their way in Oregon has a couple of tough challenges, you know, So like if Oregon Texas maybe Notre Dame if they stumble a little bit and Utah continues to because I think Utah is going to finish ten and two barring some catastrophic stubbing of the toe.

So if they can move up, you know as a result of teams in front of them of course losing, and compare that to you know, Utah handling their business and then BYU Texas, Like the only thing Brigham young as to avoid tomorrow, Spencer is just getting their breaks blown off.

Right, Like if it's thirty.

Four to thirty one and Tech kicks like a game winning field goal with thirty seconds left, I think the only thing you might see is like a flip next week where BYU's eight and Texas Tech is seven.

The only thing BYU asked to avoid is what happened last year when they went two and two down the stretch and then getting absolutely smoked by Tech.

Because here's the other thing, and I want you to tell me why you think this is there are advanced metrics, they continue to have serious questions about BYU S and P plus Texas Tech four Utah six.

BYU is at sixteen Football Power Index.

You know, Utah seven, Texas Tech eleven, BYU fourteen.

So the advanced metrics continue to like Utah.

Now I say this all the time.

The nice thing about sports is we have a scoreboard, right, and so if you like Utah, then BYU beat them, and that's the bottom line.

But why do you and then I guess is telling us that they like Texas Tech ten point five?

Why do you think there continues to be questions about BYU even though they're clean.

When you win a bunch of close games and you have to rally late in several of those games, it sometimes can hurt your quality score if you will.

And your game control I know that's a big metric, and SP plus and some other things.

And the game control by Utah and Texas Tech has been outstanding outside of the one lost Tech has and the two losses that Utah has rather BYU has trailed by double figures in all three of their road Big twelve games this season and won them, to their credit.

But that hurts metrics.

It just does when you're winning close games.

Metrics don't typically like that.

I know that the strength of record is a thing too, and that actually favors BYU, but that's the outlier.

Like not many of the numbers, especially the ones you brought up, are like yay, by you still solid, but they're not on par with Tech and Utah.

I did speak with Rhys Davis uh yesterday and he I asked him a similar question that you asked me, which is, okay, why why is b YU so heavily outweighed here against Texas Tech and even in those metrics, and he he, he brought up the same thing.

I said, Well, close games it sometimes people start to think like you're you're hanging on and you're you're.

A weak team.

But he offered this report.

He said, there's still power in a team being able to figure it out like good, if not great teams just figure out a way to win games.

And there is power in that because when you get into dogfight or a rock fight.

It's like, Yeah, we're gonna figure it out.

We're gonna win this game.

Like that confidence and that belief, it carries some weight.

So he said, don't don't get so caught up in the gosh, b why he's hanging on for dear lives.

They're gonna get burned.

It's gonna and it's gonna staying.

How long How much more luck can they take on in this thing?

He's like, I don't view it as necessarily luck outside of maybe a game or two in this you know, nineteen wins of the last twenty one that boy has had.

I value the culture and the belief and the toughness more than I do, like well, Byu is just lucky.

So I appreciated that take, and I think that there is some value in it.

But if Eyu takes this trailing by double digits in the second half on the road at Texas Tech, I don't think that that is sustainable in this game.

It would take something special for them to have to rally again.

I think they're gonna have to hang around and keep it close, probably within single digits for a majority of the game.

If they want to try and make it weird and sneak out of Lubbock with a win.

So but hopefully a competitive game helps b YU in some of the mestras you're talking about, even if it does end in the loss of tech.

Well, sometimes the way we talk about this stuff like you have to take on lane or the other, and that's not how I approach it.

It's not how I do the show.

And you know, during Big twelve media days, we had Brian Santiago on the show, and I actually was a little bit taken back, but very much appreciated his candor when he said, look, how long can we rely on things going our way?

How long can rely like he was very forthcoming about what he perceived to be some very lucky bounces a year ago, and the answer is to how long.

It can go your way?

It's continued this year.

I think it's fine saying that BYU is both very good and has been somewhat fortunate at times.

But here's the thing.

I've grown up around sports my whole life, been in the media space for twenty years, you know, grew up in the pro sports landscape.

I have never seen a team win a championship without a little luck on their side.

That's how this works.

It's okay to say out loud that Byu is very good and very well coached.

There's nothing flukey about nineteen and two.

You can't spin that any other way.

But you know, the muffed punt off the foot, you know, there's certain things that seem Look, it just seems to be this thing where Killannee and this staff and this team and this program.

They're kind of on a little bit of a magical ride where a lot of things have gone their way.

And I think that's okay to say out loud, yes, team of destiny.

That phrase often gets brought up when when those balances.

The Iowa State scenario where Rockellbeck just throws an interception right to Logan Latui.

I mean, what do you call that?

You're just like, dude, We're where are you throwing that ball?

But it's a huge break for BYU, And there was a momentum shift there, and there was a momentum shift and the back he'll kick and Iowa State dropped a pass that was going to be a touchdown.

Like yes, like that game specifically, I thought to myself, Wow, it really does feel like something magic is in the air for BYU, and to BoA's credit, they still have to go make plays.

You know, Parker Kingston has to go and snag a ball out of the air and score a touchdown, and Folly's house thoughts Toula has to, you know, pull off an amazing pick six with the balls and the Iowa State offensive players and he's rips it out and runs the other direction.

So there is like, let's give credit to the guys going to make plays when when and be opportunistic.

But yes, I agree with you.

Sometimes there are just lucky bounces, and it feels like Boa has had more of those than not over the last two years.

And I think it's going to take a few more of those tomorrow and Lubbock for BYU to be in this conversation.

I'll add this.

My co host on BO Sports.

Nation, Jerem Jordan, brought up this this morning.

BoA's played thirty games all time against top ten competition, at least that we've gathered in the modern era where stats have been kept and rankings have been health and the record's not great.

And I think BA is six wins, twenty three losses and one tie in those thirty games.

In the six wins BOU has had against those top ten teams.

Never has BA scored in the thirties, and never has an opponent scored more than twenty one against BYU when the Cougars won that game.

So, needless to say, it feels like if YOUA wins this game tomorrow, they're gonna need a few brownces and breaks and turnovers that giveaways by Texas Tech, and it will probably be a twenty seven to twenty four game, twenty eight to twenty one type game, or even a you know, twenty four to twenty three scenario where there's a walkoff field goal.

It feels a lot like that's what's going to have to happen.

I'll add to that.

Texas Tech the one loss they had this year against Arizona State.

Only one time all year had they given up more than twenty four points, and it was that game.

Tech.

Arizona State was the only team scored more than twenty four against Texas Tech.

So there are your numbers for victory if you will.

Yeah, look, man, with all the things that have fallen into place, if you attach your faith to football, then faith preceds miracle.

How firm a foundation, whatever you want to say, man like.

Folks gotta be folks have to be all in.

Uh, you know, let's get church back to three hours.

If this is gonna happen with BYU football, That's where I'm at with it.

Hey, I know, I know you gotta go.

So before you do, you you be quick if you need to.

But BYU wins tomorrow morning, Spencer, if what.

Uh three big keys for me they have?

They have to be even or better in the turnover margin.

I don't see a.

Scenario where against that Reckham tech defense, if b YU isn't even or better in the turnover margin, that they can win this game on the road.

Text teket force twenty turnovers crazy.

There's punching the ball like crazy.

So BoA's got to protect the ball and be even there.

Secondly, Boi has to run effectively enough to set up the play action pass where they have been so good like Beart Bachmeier is at his best when the play action is a like it's a thing that Aaron Rodgers can go to in his playbooks.

If you can't run the ball and Texa texts give it up seventy five rushing yards per game, which is an insane number.

If Boa can't run for at least one hundred yards.

If not one hundred and twenty yards, then the play action is not really going to work.

And that takes away a huge contingent of what Aaron Roderick wants to do with Bear Bachmeyer in the past game.

So he got to run it effectively enough.

Then the third is can BAA get off the field on third down?

Texas Sacs converting I think fifty percent or maybe a hair over that of their third downs this year.

If Boa can't get Texas Tech off the field on third down at you know, at least a forty percent clip where meaning like Texas Tech is only converting on forty percent or fewer of their third downs, gosh, that's gonna hurt BYU two.

So those are my three keys to victory, if you will, and I just I just hope it's an exciting competitive game, Like with all the build up, you just want good college football.

And that's what I want more than anything Tomorrow's for it to be a close, exciting game.

All right, buddy, Well we'll set you loose.

Enjoy it.

This is what makes our jobs fun, and so enjoy the moment and travel safe.

Okay, No, doubt about it.

Bro, appreciate you talking again soon.

All right, Spencer Litton BYUTV A massive game for Brigham Young tomorrow.

I don't think it's hyperbolic to say it's potentially the biggest game in BYU's history.

And yes, this is a program that has won a national championship back in the day.

I think it was the Michigan win that's kind of solidified them Holiday Bowl win, getting that Natty.

It makes it weird to say that this could potentially be it now.

As I said earlier in a vacuum, it is easy to say this is as big of a game that BYUS played in their history, certainly as big of a game as they played in the modern era we'll call the post Lavelle era of BYU football.

But it's contingent upon what happens afterwards.

If they are able to get this done now, this is a tough task Texas Tech.

I believe they're the only team in the country.

It is a top five team on offense and on defense.

Utah is one of four teams in the country to be in the top ten on offense.

On defense, BYU is in the top twenty in both and what BYU does well is run the football right, just like Utah.

When you look at their ranks as far as rushing yards per game, this is just conference rankings.

Utah is one at two hundred and sixty seven point one yards.

I believe Utah is the best rushing team in P four, and then BYU is at two at two hundred and sixteen point six yards.

Texas Tech is actually at three.

But if you move over to the defensive rankings, this is somewhat stunning because Texas Tech isn't just the best run defense in the Big Twelve, they're the best run defense in the country.

But as far as conference rankings go rushing defense yards allowed per game, Texas Tech seventy four point six.

That's fifty six yards between them and the second place team, which ironically enough is TCU.

At one hundred and twenty yards allowed per game.

BYU is the number four rush defense in the conference one hundred and twenty nine point four yards allowed.

Utah, by the way, is down at seven one hundred and forty four yards allowed.

So it goes Tech, TCU, Arizona State, BYU, Houston, Arizona, and Utah.

But this comes down to whether or not Bear Bachmeyer, n LJ.

Martin, and that offensive line is able to handle what is probably not just the most talented defensive front in the Big Twelve, but one of the most talented defensive fronts in college football.

David Bailey, Roumelo Height, Romelo Hide excuse me, two NFL guys on the end.

The Martinez kid at linebacker is one of the best players in the country.

He's going to be the finalist for the Buck Kiss Award for sure.

Texas Tech clearly has the respect of college football.

And I'm talking about on every single level, in every single metric.

Like we talked to Spenser about the advanced metrics that value Utah over BYU, and you simply the college football playoff rankings that value BYU over any team in the Big Twelve.

Texas Tech is the one team of the three and this has become a conference that's dominated by the Big three.

If we're very clear, it is BYU, Utah and Texas Tech and whatever order you want to put them in.

But Texas Tech is the one team among all three teams where every metric ranks them as elite.

You can't find one that doesn't rank them as elite.

And by elite I mean one of the top seven or eight teams in the country.

Legitimately, advanced metrics believe Utah is one of the top seven teams in the country.

Most of them do, but the CFP rankings have Utah thirteen.

The CFP rankings have BUYU at seven, but the advanced metrics believe they're more like fifteen or sixteen.

Texas Tech among the Big Three is as close as we have to a consensus elite football team in the Big Twelve.

This is a tough ask for BYU on the road early kick, traveling a time zone.

I think they're more or less healthy.

The reports are LJ.

Martin is going to play.

I think Jack Kelly is healthy or healthy enough to give it a go.

So the Martinez on Texas Tech probably the best linebacker not just in the conference, maybe the country, but Isaiah Glasker Jack Kelly as a combo might be the best linebacking combo in the Big twelve.

So big game.

Of course, UT's not a buye.

So a lot of eyes on this BYU Texas Tech game.

We'll kind of see how it goes down.

College Game Day will be live in Lubbock.

It is the second straight week College Game Day has been involved in a Big Twelve game.

Of course, they were here in Salt Lake.

Last week as Utah just took it to Cincinnati, and now a bye week for the Utes, but a big weekend ahead both in the national college football landscape and the Big Twelve overall.

Don't forget Trevor Riley's going to be live in studio for an entire hour.

Trevor was recruited by Mike Leach to play little college football at Texas Tech.

He decided to come to Utah, so he's familiar with both programs.

We'll get his take on Tech BYU and where he thinks Utah is currently in the college football landscape, and we'll talk about the pathways ahead for Utah to either qualify for the Big Twelve Championship or potentially get into the CFP as an at large team.

We'll do a little golf though.

Coming up on the other side, our guy Paul pug Meyer stops by.

Don't forget.

We are going to say good night to sco Shirley as the Utah women are taking on Utah State.

Logan pregame coverage at five point forty five and then tip is at six o'clock, busy show on a Friday.

Happy Friday to you, Happy weekend to you.

Keep it right here on ESPN seven hundred