Texas Tech’s scheduling push has turned into a college football soap opera, and now the ball may be in Texas’ court.
The Longhorns probably should not have swapped out one of their non-conference games for Texas Tech this season in the first place. But after all the noise coming out of Lubbock, Texas could end up being the program that finally shuts the whole thing down.
Tech coach Joey McGuire spent weeks trying to get Texas to change its already locked-in schedule and give the Red Raiders a shot at boosting their résumé. That effort has since shifted elsewhere, with McGuire reportedly “embracing the villain role” he created for himself.
Even with Texas no longer the target, McGuire hasn’t stopped shopping the Red Raiders around. According to the report, Texas A&M, USC, NC State and Mississippi State were all asked to add Texas Tech to future schedules as McGuire tried to land at least one Power Conference opponent.
The answer from all four? No.
The Red Raiders, which McGuire himself called the “most hated team in college football,” still haven’t found a program willing to sign on. “We’re talking to everybody and anybody. So far, everybody’s told us no,” McGuire told On3’s Brett McMurphy.
That’s where Texas comes back into the picture.
At the 2026 SEC Media Days, Steve Sarkisian was asked about Texas’ future home-and-home series with Notre Dame, and he didn’t exactly sound locked in on keeping it intact.
“I don’t know yet about Notre Dame,” Sarkisian said. “We’ll see, because I think the [College Football Playoff] committee has to show us what happens now and what’s the value that they’re placing on strength of schedule"
If that series were ever scrapped, Texas would suddenly have an opening on the calendar. And in that scenario, Texas Tech would at least be a logical replacement - not a glamorous one, but one that still fits the idea of adding a Power Conference opponent.
As things stand now, Texas is scheduled to go to Notre Dame in 2028 and host the Fighting Irish in 2029. If that series disappears and Texas Tech takes its place, the Longhorns would likely travel to Lubbock in 2028 and host the Red Raiders in 2029.
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