So it was notable this week when BYU Offensive Coordinator all but volunteered a very specific comparison of what his offensive is to face this weekend when matching up with a very formidable Texas Tech defense while serving strong notice of just how tough the task will be.

“This is probably the best defense we’ve played since (we played) Texas in 2023,” Roderick said when asked to generally assess the Red Raider defense. “They’re right up there with (the Longhorns) and their defensive line…They’re freaks and they’re really good players. Their linebackers are great and everyone knows that…they have no personnel weaknesses. They have a very good scheme and they’re very well-coached.”

Also, coaches are prone to a bit of hyperbole when assessing opponents in an effort to maintain a consistent approach with their own team’s preparation, among other reasons. But no one should assume that’s what Roderick did when previewing Texas Tech, at least on the defensive end with the numbers Texas Tech provides largely speaking for themselves given its No. 1 ranking in rush defense nationally on top of its No. 1o overall defensive ranking.

And as Roderick mentioned, the personnel the Red Raiders will present are true standouts, beginning with defensive end David Bailey, whose 11.5 sacks on the season leads the nation, along with linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who leads the nation in forced fumbles while leading his own team in total tackles with 77.

“They’re good and they really don’t have any weaknesses, and they get turnovers,” Roderick reasserted while adding the turnover facet. “They strip the ball as well as any team I’ve ever seen.”

And that’s just the defensive side of the football.

While the stats Texas Tech’s offense have accumulated this season are very comparable to the defensive side of the football. Consider its No. 5 overall ranking in yards gained nationally on top of averaging the third-most points.

“They have very good players,” said BYU Defensive Coordinator Jay Hill. “I think they’re good in every position group…They’re very balanced. They can run it and they can throw it. They’re veteran and they have a lot of players who have played a lot of college football, so we definitely have our work cut out for us.”

So, no apparent weaknesses with a Big 12 conference opponent foe that is ranked No. 8 nationally in the recently released CFP poll that has all but lambasted the competition, including a 34-10 route over No. 13-ranked Utah and a 43-20 pounding of Kansas State last week.

BYU is no slouch either, however, and will enter Saturday’s game ranked one spot ahead of the Red Raiders in what will be the first time ever the Cougars have squared off against a top 10 opponent while being ranked inside the top 10 themselves. The game is set to kick off at 10 a.m. MST and will be broadcasted by ESPN’s top coverage team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit while hosting the popular College Gameday pregame show.

But don’t mention any of the specter to BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake, much less his players who have worked ardently to maintain a consistent approach to preparation every week this season.

“I’m just trying to get the team ready,” Sitake said when asked about the significance of Saturday’s matchup. “I’m not a voter in the polls or any of that stuff, and all we know is that we saw the schedule and knew we were going to go out to Lubbock at this time, and that we had to prep for the opportunity to play that game…I’m looking forward to the matchup, but I’m not concerned about all that stuff with the rankings. This is an opportunity for us to play the game, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Given BYU’s success this season, and even dating back last year, whatever Sitake’s approach is has generally worked while accumulating a lot of wins in the process. The task to add another win come Saturday is certainly a tough one, and Texas Tech certainly appears to have the advantage in most areas and are favored by 10.5 points by Las Vegas. But betting against BYU can be a shaky prospect with Sitake and company aiming to prove the doubters wrong yet again.