Texas Tech linebacker and Heisman contender Jacob Rodriguez added an unexpected highlight to his remarkable season on Saturday, delivering a clutch throw during an impromptu contest on ESPN’s College GameDay. The moment unfolded ahead of the Big 12 championship game, where No. 4 Texas Tech faced No. 11 BYU with a first-round College Football Playoff bye on the line. Before kickoff, analyst Pat McAfee invited Rodriguez to participate in a high-stakes challenge benefiting a military foundation of the player’s choice.
McAfee offered $250,000 if Rodriguez could hit the crossbar from 20 yards out—an impressive feat under any conditions, let alone moments before the biggest game of the year. The opportunity carried personal significance for Rodriguez, whose wife, Emma, serves as a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot. Without hesitation, the senior linebacker stepped up and delivered a perfect strike, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the ball ricocheted cleanly off the bar.
Although Rodriguez is known nationally for his defensive dominance, the moment served as a reminder of his unique offensive background. A former high school quarterback, he began his collegiate career at Virginia playing multiple offensive positions before transferring to Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have even integrated occasional offensive snaps into his workload this season to bolster his Heisman résumé.
McAfee teased Rodriguez before the throw, telling him, “Maybe you’ll win the Heisman if you do this.” Whether it influences voters remains to be seen, but the perfectly executed toss certainly added another chapter to Rodriguez’s already compelling case. The timing couldn’t have been more fitting, as millions of viewers witnessed the display just minutes before championship kickoff.
Rodriguez’s on-field performance later that day only strengthened his reputation. He anchored a suffocating Texas Tech defense that overpowered BYU in a decisive 34–7 victory. Rodriguez finished with 13 total tackles, including four solo stops and a tackle for loss, while teammate Ben Roberts intercepted Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier twice in the second half.
With the Big 12 title secured and their defense operating at an elite level, No. 4 Texas Tech now turns its attention to the College Football Playoff. Rodriguez’s leadership—and his newfound viral moment—will be central storylines as the Red Raiders prepare for their next challenge on the national stage.
