The rivalry between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns has reached a boiling point, despite the teams no longer sharing a conference. Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has issued a direct challenge to Steve Sarkisian, proposing a high-stakes Week 1 matchup to settle a growing war of words regarding strength of schedule and roster depth.
The tension began after Sarkisian made pointed remarks about the perceived ease of the Red Raiders’ schedule. In response, McGuire—a respected veteran of the Texas high school coaching circuit—suggested that both programs scrap their current season openers to face one another. Currently, the Longhorns are slated to play Texas State, while the Red Raiders are scheduled against Abilene Christian (ACU). McGuire revealed that he has already held preliminary discussions with ACU’s Keith Patterson and Texas State’s GJ Kinne, both of whom expressed a willingness to pivot and play each other instead.
McGuire emphasized that funding the change would not be an obstacle. He noted that while Texas has the financial resources to buy out their contract, Texas Tech’s supporters are equally prepared to step up. The coach even suggested Lubbock as the venue to test Sarkisian’s claim that his secondary units could dominate the conference. If a trip to the South Plains is not on the table, McGuire mentioned that Tech megabooster Cody Campbell has already been in contact with Stephen Jones about potentially moving the game to AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The Context Behind Steve Sarkisian’s Provocative Remarks
The friction stems from comments Sarkisian made during an appearance at the Touchdown Club in Houston. Addressing a question about the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process, Sarkisian voiced frustrations common among SEC programs regarding the committee’s evaluation of schedule difficulty. His comments were interpreted as a direct jab at Texas Tech’s path to the postseason.
Sarkisian argued that there is a program within the state, competing in a different conference, whose schedule is so manageable that his second- and third-string players could navigate it undefeated. He predicted that this team would likely secure a CFP berth due to their favorable slate. After reviewing the footage to ensure he wasn’t misinterpreting the “tough guy” persona of his peer, McGuire concluded that the remarks were indeed aimed at his program.
Historical Context and the 2025 Season Outlook
The programs are coming off vastly different 2025 campaigns. Texas entered last year with immense expectations as the AP preseason No. 1, yet they became the first top-ranked preseason team since 2012 to finish the year outside of the top 10 and miss the postseason entirely. Conversely, Texas Tech enjoyed a historic season, winning the Big 12 championship and entering the CFP as the No. 4 seed with a first-round bye. Their season eventually ended with a shutout loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl.
Looking ahead to 2026, both teams are viewed as legitimate contenders for their respective titles. Texas faces a daunting schedule that includes a high-profile matchup against Ohio State. In contrast, the Red Raiders’ nonconference schedule lacks a Power Four opponent following the realignment of the Pac-12, and they notably avoid conference heavyweights like Utah and BYU this season.
The history between these two schools spans over 70 meetings. While McGuire led the Red Raiders to a dramatic victory during Texas’s last visit to Lubbock in 2022, the Longhorns dominated their most recent encounter in Austin with a 57-7 win. As the two programs move in different directions conference-wise, this verbal sparring keeps one of the state’s most storied rivalries very much alive.
Final Thoughts on the Potential Matchup
While a mid-summer schedule overhaul is rare in modern college football, McGuire’s public challenge highlights the competitive fire remaining between these former conference foes. Whether the logistics of buyouts and venue changes actually manifest into a Week 1 showdown remains to be seen, but the narrative has successfully set the stage for a season where both Texas and Texas Tech will be under the microscope regarding their respective strengths and schedules.
