Jacob Rodriguez and wife Emma share emotional moment after Texas Tech's BYU win

The Texas Tech Heisman Trophy candidate and his U.S. Army pilot wife continue to charm America.
Dec. 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) celebrates after the game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium.
Dec. 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) celebrates after the game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Jacob Rodriguez and his wife Emma continue to have a fairytale season.

The unlikeliest Heisman Trophy contender, already a Butkus Award winner, continued the momentum after being the inspirational captain for the Texas Tech Red Raiders as they blew out the BYU Cougars, 34-7, to capturing the Big 12 championship and assuring themselves a spot in the College Football Playoff, most likely with a home game.

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Jacob Rodriguez
Dec. 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) celebrates with the Big 12 Championship trophy after the game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

But enough about the on the field action, because all we care about is Rodriguez, the once "lost" Virginia quarterback, who eventually returned back home to Texas as a walk-on with zero options as a QB1, only to become a linebacker and eventual star captain of the Red Raiders.

Unfortunately while that certainly is impressive, he's still in second place for biggest rockstar in his marriage.

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Emma Rodriguez
Emma Rodriguez becomes emotional as her husband, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, is honored on senior day before a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium. | Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

That title belongs to his wife, Emma, who graduated from West Point and is now a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot, and Jacob's biggest fan.

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Not only is she his "biggest and loudest fan," she's also a constant source of inspiration for Rodriguez, and the happy couple, now America's darlings, shared an emotional moment together as they embraced after the game.

You can tell how much it means to Emma especially, and it's one of those sweet moments that would have happened whether or not any cameras were rolling.

Thanks to Jacob and Emma, fans across the country are rooting for Texas Tech to make a Cinderella run for an unlikely national championship, especially with their cocky older brother, the Texas Longhorns, desperately trying to make the CFP.

Although let's be honest, they've already won this season no matter what happens now.

Jacob Rodriguez
Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez asks for more crowd noise during the Big 12 Championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. | Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Matthew Graham
MATTHEW GRAHAM

Matthew Graham has over 20 years of media experience and oversees The Athlete Lifestyle On SI. He has had previous leadership roles at NBC Sports, Yahoo, and USA TODAY, where he co-founded For The Win (named Best Mobile Site by Digiday). He has also written for ESPN, Cosmopolitan, US Weekly, People, E! Online, and FHM, covering major sports and entertainment events like the Oscars, the Golden Globes, NBA Finals, Super Bowl, and winning the Yahoo Superstar Award for coverage of the Olympics.