Texas Tech football fans will have two preseason chances to get closer to the program on Saturday, Aug. 29, with “Meet the Red Raiders” and the Knights of Columbus Tech Night Kickoff both on the calendar.
The annual autograph event runs from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. inside the Sports Performance Center. Parking will be available in the west lot of Galaxy Stadium, and admission is free. Fans are being asked to keep autographs to one item, and Tech athletics will hand out 2026 season posters.
Later in the day, the Knights of Columbus Tech Night Kickoff is set for the KOC Council 3008 Hall at 4702 130th St. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., and pulled pork sandwiches will be served until 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $25, while children 12 and under are admitted free. More information is listed on the upcoming events page at kofclubbock3008.org.
The program for Tech Night includes coach Joey McGuire, general manager James Blanchard and associate athletics director Antonio Huffman. The Goin’ Band from Raiderland and the Texas Tech spirit squads are also scheduled to appear.
Texas Tech opens the season by hosting Abilene Christian at 6 p.m. Sept. 5.
The Red Raiders went 12-2 last season and reached the College Football Playoff before losing in the Orange Bowl. Abilene Christian, coached by former Tech defensive coordinator Keith Patterson, finished 9-5 last year, won the United Athletic Conference for the second straight season and lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Defense Faces An Early Test In The Opener
Texas Techs defense will enter the season opener with at least one notable absence after Joey McGuire said starting edge rusher Trey White will miss the game against Abilene Christian because of a knee injury. It is not a season-ending issue, but it does trim some of the edge rushing experience the Red Raiders expected to have on hand when the year kicks off.
Still, the early concern around White comes with some built-in reassurance for Tech. The Red Raiders are otherwise expected to be healthy, and there is depth behind him with true freshman LaDamion Guyton and senior transfer Jamond Mathis both positioned to help cover snaps while White works his way back. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Defense Still Has Key Starting Spots Up For Grabs
With Texas Tech set to open against Abilene Christian, the next item on the programs checklist is the official two-deep, and the defense still has a few spots to sort through before the first snap. The staff has already spent the preseason weighing personnel, tracking injuries and watching player development, with the positional picture mostly coming into focus even if the final pecking order is not yet locked in.
Several veteran pieces appear positioned for prominent roles, but the last details on who starts where and how much each defender will play remain unsettled. That uncertainty is part of the intrigue heading into the opener, since the Red Raiders have enough known contributors to feel comfortable and enough competition left at multiple spots to make the depth chart worth watching when it finally drops. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Opener Feels More Complicated Than A Typical Week 1 Tune-Up
Texas Techs opener against Abilene Christian comes with a little more uncertainty than the usual Week 1 tune-up. Both rosters have changed a lot since the teams met in 2024, which makes film study less straightforward, and Joey McGuire and defensive coordinator Shiel Wood have both pointed to the challenge of getting a clean read on what the Wildcats will actually look like this time around.
Abilene Christian has already been on the field once this season, and its offensive staff gives this matchup an especially familiar feel for Tech fans. Keith Pattersons team is being steered by Graham Harrell, the Texas Tech Hall of Famer who now runs the Wildcats offense, adding a layer of history to a game that already asks the Red Raiders to sort through a new cast of players on both sides. [Read more 🡒]