Texas Tech’s historic 12-1 season culminates in conference-wide recognition, with linebacker Jacob Rodriguez headlining the AP All-Big 12 team as Defensive Player of the Year. The Red Raiders’ defensive dominance is validated with five first-team defensive selections.
The Associated Press All-Big 12 team for the 2025 season is a testament to the year of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Announced Thursday, the team features a conference-leading seven first-team selections from Texas Tech, headlined by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez being named the AP Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. This sweeping recognition solidifies the Red Raiders’ defensive unit as one of the most formidable in the nation, perfectly timed as they prepare for their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
The accolades for Rodriguez cap an unprecedented individual campaign. The senior from Wichita Falls, Texas, recorded 117 tackles and led the entire Football Bowl Subdivision with seven forced fumbles. His season stat line is a historical anomaly; he is the first FBS player since 2005 to achieve at least five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions in a single season. This AP honor adds to a trophy case that already includes the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Lombardi Award, and the Butkus Award, confirming his status as the nation’s premier defensive player.
Defensive Dominance Recognized
Rodriguez was far from alone in earning first-team defensive honors for Texas Tech. He was joined by four teammates on the first-team defense, a clear indication of the unit’s collective strength.
- David Bailey (DE): A transfer from Stanford, Bailey was a unanimous first-team selection and was also named the Big 12’s First-Year Transfer of the Year. He led the conference with 13.5 sacks, providing a relentless pass rush.
- Lee Hunter (DT) and A.J. Holmes Jr. (DT): The interior linemen were instrumental in shutting down opposing rushing attacks, creating havoc that freed up Rodriguez and the linebackers.
- Brice Pollock (CB): Lockdown coverage from Pollock solidified a secondary that rarely gave up big plays.
This defensive core was the engine of a Texas Tech team that captured its first-ever Big 12 championship with a victory over BYU and earned a first-round bye in the expanded 12-team playoff. Their next challenge is the Orange Bowl on January 1st.
BYU’s Sitake and Martin Earn Top Offensive Honors
While Texas Tech dominated the defensive awards, BYU claimed the other major individual honors. Head coach Kalani Sitake was named the AP Big 12 Coach of the Year for guiding the Cougars to an impressive season, with both of their losses coming at the hands of Texas Tech, including the conference title game. Running back LJ Martin was the unanimous choice for AP Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference with 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing.
BYU placed four players on the first team, including Martin, center Bruce Mitchell, safety Tanner Wall, and all-purpose player Parker Kingston. Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier was named the league’s Freshman of the Year.
Complete First-Team Roster Highlights League’s Best
The first-team offense also featured TCU receiver Eric McAlister, a unanimous selection who led the Big 12 with 1,121 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Houston’s Amare Thomas joined him at wide receiver. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita earned the first-team QB spot, while Texas Tech’s Cameron Dickey was the other first-team running back alongside Martin.
The offensive line was anchored by Utah tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu. Texas Tech’s special teams were represented by placekicker Stone Harrington.
On defense, Utah’s John Henry Daley joined Bailey as a first-team defensive end. The linebacker corps featured TCU’s Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Cincinnati’s Jake Golday alongside Rodriguez. The secondary was rounded out by Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II and Arizona safety Dalton Johnson. Baylor’s Palmer Williams was the first-team punter.
What These Honors Mean for the Big 12 Landscape
The distribution of AP All-Big 12 honors paints a clear picture of the conference’s hierarchy in 2025. Texas Tech’s overwhelming presence on the first team, especially on defense, underscores why they were the class of the league. Their ability to reload with impact transfers like David Bailey, while developing homegrown stars like Jacob Rodriguez, is a blueprint for success in the modern era.
For BYU, the recognition of Sitake and Martin signals a program that has successfully transitioned into a power conference and can compete for championships. The fact that their only two losses came to the eventual champion shows how narrow the gap was at the top.
The selections were determined by a panel of 17 media members who cover the Big 12, ensuring the results reflect a broad consensus of expert opinion. The complete dominance of Texas Tech’s defense in these awards sends a powerful message to their upcoming playoff opponents: beating the Red Raiders means solving a defense loaded with the conference’s very best players.
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