Lead
On Nov. 8, 2025, sources told ESPN that No. 7 BYU is expected to start wide receiver Jojo Phillips in the upcoming game against No. 8 Texas Tech. Phillips had not played since the Sept. 6 victory over Stanford after undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury, a procedure he described as successful on social media. His return, nearly two months later, would restore a proven deep-threat option alongside Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston. The report was attributed to ESPN reporter Pete Thamel and anonymous team sources.
Key Takeaways
- ESPN sources say Jojo Phillips is expected to start for BYU against Texas Tech on the week of Nov. 8, 2025; the report was filed by Pete Thamel.
- Phillips last played on Sept. 6 in BYU’s 27-3 win over Stanford, recording three catches for 30 yards in that game.
- He announced on social media that he had successful surgery for an unspecified upper-body injury and aimed to “be back soon.”
- Phillips missed nearly two months of action; his availability would add a vertical threat to BYU’s offense that already features Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston.
- In 2024, Phillips totaled 10 receptions for 211 yards and two touchdowns, an average of 21.1 yards per catch.
- The starting designation reported is based on sources; an official BYU roster release confirming the depth chart was not included in the report.
Background
BYU entered the Nov. 8, 2025 reporting window ranked No. 7 nationally, while Texas Tech sat at No. 8, making the matchup consequential for College Football Playoff positioning and national perception. BYU’s offense has leaned on quarterback play and complementary receivers Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston; having a returner with Phillips’ speed and big-play profile could force opponents to allocate more coverage resources to the outside. Phillips’ absence since early September followed a 27-3 win over Stanford, after which he disclosed undergoing upper-body surgery.
Depth and health have been recurring themes for BYU this season: injuries to perimeter players limited play-calling flexibility at times and elevated the importance of rotational depth. Texas Tech’s defense will prepare for schemes that test its perimeter coverage and open room for underneath routes if Phillips stretches the field. Team medical staff, coaches and NFL scouts generally view a two-month recovery window for non-specific upper-body procedures as plausible for a conditioned collegiate athlete, but individual timelines vary.
Main Event
According to ESPN, sources close to the program told reporter Pete Thamel that Phillips is expected to be in the starting lineup for the game against Texas Tech. The same report notes he has been practicing with the team in recent weeks and showing encouraging signs in practice sessions. BYU’s offensive coordinator told reporters in the leadup to the Oct. 25 game at Iowa State that Phillips was “getting really close” and was “practicing and looking really good out here.”
Phillips’ last game appearance was Sept. 6 versus Stanford, when he posted three receptions for 30 yards. After that contest, he posted that his surgery went well and that he expected to return soon; returning for a high-stakes matchup against a top-10 opponent would meet that timeline. Sources did not provide a medical release or a detailed rehab timeline in the reporting, and the expected start is described as coming from team insiders rather than a formal depth-chart announcement.
If he starts, BYU coaches are likely to deploy Phillips primarily as a vertical threat to complement intermediate and possession routes run by Roberts and Kingston. That alignment would create more one-on-one opportunities downfield and could change defensive game-planning for Texas Tech, potentially opening more space for BYU’s run game and play-action looks.
Analysis & Implications
On-field, Phillips’ presence alters BYU’s attack geometry. At 21.1 yards per catch in 2024 (211 yards on 10 receptions), he projects as a high-yardage, lower-volume target who can flip field position quickly. Texas Tech’s secondary must decide whether to matchup with their best cover men on a single receiver or bracket him and leave other BYU targets in more favorable matchups. That strategic choice affects how Texas Tech defends the intermediate zones and run fits against play-action.
For BYU’s offense, schematic flexibility increases with Phillips available. The coaching staff can reintroduce more vertical concepts, nest play-action passes, and stretch safeties vertically to create lanes for Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston underneath. Those adjustments could raise expected points per drive if completions on deep attempts convert third-and-long situations into manageable downs or explosive plays.
From a roster and season-outlook perspective, adding Phillips for a marquee top-10 meeting strengthens BYU’s resume in the eyes of pollsters and the CFP committee, should the Cougars win. Conversely, any limitation in his snap count or effectiveness due to lingering recovery would temper those gains. Opposing evaluators will watch early-game snaps and target distribution for signs of full recovery versus a cautious reintegration.
Comparison & Data
| Context | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns | Yds/Rec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 season total | 10 | 211 | 2 | 21.1 |
| Sept. 6 vs Stanford | 3 | 30 | 0 | 10.0 |
The table shows Phillips’ 2024 overview and his stat line from the Sept. 6 Stanford game. While his season totals reflect big-play ability, the Stanford line was more modest; the contrast underscores both his upside and the small-sample volatility of his receiving workload. Coaches will be monitoring target share and yards after catch to evaluate whether his pre-injury explosiveness returns immediately or ramps up over multiple games.
Reactions & Quotes
“Jojo’s getting really close. He’s practicing and looking really good out here.”
BYU offensive coordinator (reporting to press, Oct. 25, 2025)
“I had a successful surgery and will be back soon,”
Jojo Phillips (social media post following Sept. 6 game)
“Sources told ESPN that Phillips is expected to start against Texas Tech,”
Pete Thamel / ESPN (sports reporting)
Unconfirmed
- The exact nature and medical details of Phillips’ upper-body surgery were not disclosed; recovery timelines are therefore approximate.
- The ESPN report cites sources; an official BYU depth-chart or medical release confirming a starting spot had not been posted with the report.
- Projected snap counts, target share, and any in-game limitations (if he plays) remain unknown until game-day reporting and official statistics are available.
Bottom Line
Sources saying Jojo Phillips is expected to start against Texas Tech is significant for BYU’s game plan: his deep-speed profile can alter how the Red Raiders allocate coverage and force new looks from BYU’s offense. The addition is particularly meaningful in a top-10 matchup where explosive plays have outsized impact on both the scoreboard and national perception.
However, the report is source-based and not a formal medical or roster release; watch for official confirmation from BYU and early-game usage to assess whether Phillips is fully recovered or being eased back in. For bettors, scouts and fans, Phillips’ snap count and target distribution in the first quarter will be the clearest indicators of his readiness and the extent of the advantage he provides.