BIG 12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: BYU VS TEXAS TECH

December 6, 2025

Chase Roberts

Faletau Satuala

AT&T Stadium

BYU Cougars

Postgame Press Conference

Texas Tech - 34, BYU - 7

Q. Chase, with all the stuff that took place this weekend, did that have any distractions, have any impact on this team heading into this game, the readiness?

CHASE ROBERTS: No, I think we were excited, obviously, Kalani coming back, and there was some stuff at the beginning of the week, not knowing.

But ultimately, we're football players, and we want to go play football this weekend and win a Big 12 Championship, whatever happened, you know?

So I think we were able to lock in, and we're just excited for what we're building here at BYU. We'll be back at the Big 12 Championship in the upcoming season, and so I feel like -- obviously it hurts. You look back at all the different things that could have caused something like this, but they're a good team. They made plays. They had some turnovers, and we didn't execute the way we needed to. So, ultimately, it comes down to that.

I still love my brothers. So we're not going to point fingers or anything. We're going to go out and smile and be a good son, be a good brother, and be a BYU football player. So...

Q. Chase, you and Kalani both said that you're going to be back in the near future, the Big 12 title, but being around this program for four years now, where do you think that BYU needs to kind of grow the most as a program to eventually beat a team like Texas Tech? And what are some of the initial thoughts there?

CHASE ROBERTS: Yeah, we're building this program, right? I mean, you've seen it in the past, like what's been happening over time as we've joined the Big 12. We're top 20 in recruiting, right, this year. And that's going to help a lot.

You need some talent on the team, obviously, and so you go execute and you have a coach like Kalani and you have the coaching staff like we have now and you get those recruits, and you get these young boys building and growing. You've got a freshman quarterback that just went 11-2. Like, all BYU fans should be freakin' hyped about the next coming seasons and coming back and beating a team like Texas Tech. That's a great team, and they were able to put together a good squad with all the resources and everything that they have.

And I think now that we've been able to step up and have those resources now, we're going to be right up there with them.

Q. Chase, you were nursing your hamstring injury the past couple weeks. How close to 100 percent were you today, and do you feel like it affected your play at all?

CHASE ROBERTS: I mean, I feel like everyone at this point in the season's battling something. So I'm not going to complain and say that, yeah, I was battling a hamstring injury. We're all -- Bear was playing with one leg, you know what I mean?

Everyone's just gotta go do their part and do their thing, and I felt good enough to play, so I was going to go play and do my best. And that's everyone on the whole team across both sides, you know what I mean? So it's part of the game and part of football, especially the end of the season.

Q. Faletau, looked like you had a chance at an interception early on in this game. How much do you rue opportunities like that with the outcome of a game like this?

FALETAU SATUALA: Obviously you can tell that we should have made more plays on defense. And when it comes to big games like this, you know, it just really comes down to the team who makes those big plays and takes advantage of those opportunities.

Defensively, I feel like we had a lot of times where we could make plays like that, get interceptions, sacks. And even that fumble, I want to say like you bounce back, but at the same time, like, run to the ball, get on that thing. So overall, you know, they just made more plays than us.

Q. What was Texas Tech's defense doing to basically eliminate any shots downfield? Because it was pretty quick passes today.

CHASE ROBERTS: Yeah, I feel like, I don't know, I don't want to point any fingers. I feel like we all just could have done better as a squad. I could have gotten opened more, and they did have that cover 6 that makes it hard. They get deep, and Bear's getting pressure; it's hard for him to find openings.

They have a great D line that is tough and strong and gets pressure on the quarterback. So everything combined -- I think the first drive we were able to kind of find a rhythm. We were hitting those ends and running the ball, and it felt good. We just couldn't maintain that the rest of the game.

They were able to take that away and get pressure on the QB, and we just couldn't find our flow the rest of the game, unfortunately. But I liked the way we started, a lot of energy, a lot of effort.

And unfortunately, with turnovers, it's hard to come back to a team like that when they have that field position and start scoring a bunch of points.

Q. Do either of you really have a message for the CFB that -- your worthiness to be part of the 12-team playoff?

FALETAU SATUALA: I'd say, you know, we won all season. The only time we've lost is to the number four team in the nation. Obviously Texas Tech's a great team, but I feel like we can go out there and compete, yeah, like you should be able to get in with winning games. So that should have been our spin.

CHASE ROBERTS: It's a great league. The Big 12 is, we're the second-best team in the Big 12 when you look at it, and I think we can obviously go compete.

I have a lot of confidence in my guys. When we don't turn the ball over and we're able to play together, then we're hard to beat.

So let's just see what happens. I know it's hard. I know we're building, too, as a program. And whatever happens, I think we're ready to take it on, and I think if we do get a chance at the College Football Playoffs, I think we should, that we'll go compete and be competitive.

Q. How optimistic are you about it? Are you looking forward to the announcement, or are you kind of dreading it? You might not be in there? How do you all look at that part of it?

CHASE ROBERTS: I'm looking forward to, yeah, if we get an opportunity to go, I'll be hyped and we'll all be jumping up and down and cheering and ready to go. Yeah, I'm going to be watching.

FALETAU SATUALA: Yeah, I feel like you've got to be optimistic about it. Always just believe that your team, even with a little chance, like, if that little chance is worth anything, we're going to believe we get in.

Q. If the playoff doesn't come calling, how do you feel like this locker room's going to respond to, if you guys don't make it to the playoff and just go to a bowl game?

CHASE ROBERTS: We all love each other so much. There's such a great culture that we've built, and the team that we have, we're going to go out and we're going to play our hearts out. We're going to prepare the right way. And the guys that are going to move on, I, think, are going to want to showcase a better outing. At least for me, I want to be able to end on a bang and be able to showcase our skills, and for the young guys, to build something and create momentum going into the next part of the season like we did last year at the Alamo Bowl.

Q. Chase, you've referenced the future multiple times and how bright it is for BYU. Where do you see Bear Bachmeier's game going from a kid who has played high school ball a year ago, just the progress you saw this year, and where do you see it going from here?

CHASE ROBERTS: He's only going to get better, obviously. As a freshman, there's a lot of learning curves, and I couldn't imagine getting thrown into a position like this as a freshman kid. He knows and he understands his role, and as he matures and grows and just gets more experience, he's going to be that much better, and the toughness is there, everything is there to be a great football player, to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football.

And as we keep building and get those recruits and everyone building and growing and learning, as Bear leads the way, it's going to be a hard team to beat. So I'm excited for the future and for Bear.