Texas Tech University Athletics
Rodriguez again garners Big 12 weekly honors
November 17, 2025 | Football
Rodriguez is the only player since 2005 with at least five forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a season
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez collected Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third time in as many weeks Monday after notching his ninth takeaway of the season in the Red Raiders' win over UCF.
This is the fourth Big 12 weekly award this season for Rodriguez, who added another key milestone in his Heisman Trophy campaign Saturday, leading the No. 6 Red Raiders with nine tackles and an interception to go along with a rushing touchdown of his own in their 48-9 victory.
Rodriguez blew up a UCF screen pass, picking off Tayven Jackson late in the second quarter to give the Red Raiders the ball back near the red zone. Texas Tech scored three plays later, pushing its lead to 35-2 at the time. The interception marked his fourth of the season and the ninth takeaway Rodriguez has had his hand in already this year, all in Big 12 play.
The performance pushed Rodriguez' season totals to 100 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and an FBS-leading seven forced fumbles. Dating back to 2005, Rodriguez is the only FBS player to record at least five forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries all in the same season.
Rodriguez also added to Texas Tech's rout on the offensive end, lining up as a Wildcat quarterback to power through for a 2-yard touchdown run and an early 14-0 lead early in the first quarter. It was his second touchdown of the season after returning his own forced fumble 69 yards to the end zone in Texas Tech's 42-0 rout a few weeks ago over Oklahoma State. He also earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors following that win.
Texas Tech gave up only 230 yards of total offense to UCF, including 52 yards on the ground in another dominating defensive performance. The Knights had only 180 yards of total offense when Rodriguez and many of Texas Tech's defensive starters exited the game early in the fourth quarter. The Red Raiders continue to rank among the nation's elite defenses thanks to Rodriguez, coming in at No. 2 nationally in turnovers gained (25) this week, No. 3 in scoring defense (12.3) as well as No. 8 in total defense (266.1 yards per game).
The victory pushed Texas Tech to its seventh 10-win season in school history and its first since 2008 entering its second open date on the schedule. The Red Raiders have won each of their 10 games by at least 22 points, making Texas Tech the only school in the FBS to have double-digit wins this season.
Texas Tech will close the regular season Nov. 29 at West Virginia where the No. 6 Red Raiders will look to tie the single-school record with their 11th win. The Big 12 Conference announced earlier Monday that the regular-season finale has been held under a six-day window with the kickoff time and television designation expected by Sunday morning.
