Lubbock, Texas — texas tech linebacker jacob rodriguez Indicated that he was somewhat forced by teammates to strike a Heisman Trophy pose during another impressive defensive performance by the ninth-ranked Red Raiders.
The 6-foot-1, 235-pounder with the distinctive mustache now copied by Texas Tech fans should at least be in the conversation for college football’s highest individual honor.
Rodriguez had 14 tackles and two takeaways for the Red Raiders win 29-7 ahead of previously undefeated number 8 BYU On Saturday, three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes — who was at the game during the bye week for the Kansas City Chiefs — posted on social media: “Take him to New York! @HeismanTrophy.”
For all the air raid offenses that have flown at Texas Tech in recent decades, including the one run by Mahomes, who threw for 11,252 yards and 93 touchdowns from 2014–16, no Texas Tech player has brought the Heisman Trophy back to South Field. Now, the linebacker who began his college career as a quarterback at Virginia could make a strong bid.
Rodriguez, the FBS leader with seven forced fumbles, had his third interception of the season in the third quarter when he reached out and tipped the ball to himself. They posed after that play.
Rodriguez said of his pose, “My guys, they wanted me to kill it. Just a rush of adrenaline.”
Then in the fourth quarter, Rodriguez added a fumble recovery after BYU’s true freshman quarterback pounced on a loose ball. bear bachmeyer Threw a backward pass while under pressure.
Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire has not been shy about promoting the Heisman campaign for Rodriguez, whose wife is a U.S. Army helicopter pilot stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.
Take him to New York! @HeismanTrophy https://t.co/KGk6Gs0Lgy
– Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) 8 November 2025
McGuire said, “The Heisman is given to the best football player. It’s not given to the best quarterback; they have awards for that.” “If you can’t say that Jacob Rodriguez, at his position, is not playing at an elite level, as good as any player in the country. … That kid deserves to be a part of it.”
Rodriguez said he and McGuire have “talked a lot” to Heisman and that he appreciates his coach’s support.
“Just knowing he’s got my back and I’ve got his back,” the linebacker said.
Rodriguez and defensive ends David BaileyJoe, who went with an FBS-high 11½ sacks on Saturday, has helped transform Tech’s defense from one that allowed 34.8 points per game last season to one that allowed 12.6 this year, and also leads the nation in rush defense.
The Red Raiders (9-1, 6-1 No. 8 CFP) held BYU to a season-low 255 total yards, only 106 in the first half, when Tech took a 13-0 lead. The Cougars (8-1, 5-1, No. 7 CFP) averaged 433.4 yards and 36.3 points per game.
Big 12 rushing leaders LJ Martin He was held to 35 yards, well below his 98.6-yard average. Martin sat out the second half at Iowa State two weeks ago due to a shoulder injury and BYU coach Kalani Sitake said Martin was not at full strength.
“The one thing I talk about [defensive players] About dominates the front. We want to stop the run,” McGuire said. “He’s the No. 1 rusher in the Big 12 in yardage, LJ. And that quarterback has become electrified with his legs. When you do that, you have a chance to rush the passer, and we did.”
