The rivalry between Texas Tech and the University of Texas has reached a boiling point, despite the teams now residing in different conferences. Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire has officially challenged Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns to a Week 1 showdown, following a series of dismissive comments made by the Texas leader regarding Tech’s upcoming schedule.
Currently, both programs have non-conference matchups slated for the opening weekend: Texas is set to face Texas State, while Texas Tech is scheduled to host Abilene Christian (ACU). McGuire, leveraging his deep roots in Texas high school football, revealed that he has already initiated talks with the coaching staffs at both ACU and Texas State. According to McGuire, both programs are open to pivoting their schedules to play each other, effectively clearing the way for a Longhorns-Red Raiders clash.
McGuire emphasized that the logistical hurdles, specifically contract buyouts, are manageable. He noted that Texas Tech is prepared to pay the necessary fees to exit their agreement with ACU and suggested that the Longhorns’ significant financial resources make a similar move for Texas State feasible. McGuire even hinted that prominent Red Raider boosters are ready to assist if necessary, provided Texas is willing to travel to Lubbock to prove their depth against Big 12 competition.
Should the Longhorns hesitate to play at Jones AT&T Stadium, McGuire proposed a high-profile alternative. He mentioned that Texas Tech megabooster Cody Campbell has already been in contact with Dallas Cowboys executive Stephen Jones regarding a potential game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. McGuire made his stance clear: the Red Raiders are ready to play the Longhorns anywhere to start the season.
The Remarks That Sparked the Confrontation
The tension stems from comments Sarkisian made during a recent appearance at the Touchdown Club in Houston. When addressed by a fan regarding the Longhorns’ strength of schedule—a recurring point of frustration for SEC teams after Texas was excluded from the College Football Playoff despite a 9-3 record—Sarkisian took a shot at an unnamed in-state program.
Sarkisian suggested that there is a team in Texas playing in a different conference with a schedule so manageable that his second and third-string players could likely navigate it undefeated. He further predicted that this team would likely secure a CFP spot this season based on that perceived lack of difficulty.
Upon reviewing the footage to ensure no context was lost, McGuire took the comments personally. While he initially questioned if Sarkisian would be so indirect, McGuire concluded that the remarks were aimed squarely at the Red Raiders, prompting his public invitation to settle the dispute on the gridiron.
Contrasting 2023 Results and Future Scheduling Outlooks
The two programs are coming off vastly different 2023 campaigns. Texas entered the season with immense expectations as the preseason AP No. 1, yet they became the first top-ranked team since 2012 to finish outside the top 10 and miss the postseason entirely. In contrast, Texas Tech enjoyed a historic season, securing their first Big 12 championship and earning the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff, which included a first-round bye. Though their season ended with a shutout loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl, the Red Raiders established themselves as a new power in the revamped Big 12.
Looking ahead to 2026, both teams are expected to be in the hunt for conference titles and playoff berths, but their paths look very different. The Longhorns are facing one of the nation’s most daunting schedules, highlighted by a high-stakes home game against Ohio State. Conversely, Texas Tech’s schedule has come under scrutiny; following the realignment of the Pac-12, the Red Raiders lack a Power Four opponent in their non-conference slate and will not face Big 12 heavyweights Utah or BYU this season.
Historically, these two programs have met over 70 times, maintaining an annual tradition through their years in the Southwest Conference and the Big 12. While McGuire orchestrated a memorable upset over the Longhorns in Lubbock in 2022, Texas dominated their most recent meeting in 2023 with a 57-7 victory in Austin. This latest war of words suggests that even without a scheduled game, the animosity between the South Plains and the Hill Country remains as strong as ever.
Final Thoughts: The verbal sparring between Joey McGuire and Steve Sarkisian underscores a growing rift in the Texas football landscape. As the Longhorns transition into the SEC’s elite tier and the Red Raiders look to solidify their dominance in the Big 12, the debate over strength of schedule vs. on-field results will continue to dominate the conversation. While a Week 1 swap remains unlikely due to administrative complexities, the challenge itself serves as a reminder that the Texas-Texas Tech rivalry doesn’t need a conference affiliation to stay relevant.
