Texas Tech Coach Joey McGuire Calls Out Texas for Week 1 Showdown

In an unexpected twist, Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire has openly challenged Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. He wants the Longhorns to face the Red Raiders in Week 1 of the upcoming college football season.

All this started after Sarkisian made comments about Texas Tech’s schedule that McGuire found, well, kind of insulting. Right now, the Red Raiders are set to play Abilene Christian, and Texas is supposed to play Texas State in Week 1. But McGuire’s thrown out the idea of swapping those games, pushing for a high-stakes Texas vs. Texas Tech showdown instead.

The Challenge: McGuire vs. Sarkisian

Joey McGuire, who used to coach high school football in Texas, clearly didn’t appreciate Sarkisian’s remarks. Sarkisian had implied that even Texas’s backup players could go undefeated against a schedule like Texas Tech’s.

In response, McGuire suggested both teams buy out their current Week 1 contracts to make room for a head-to-head game. He said he’s already talked to Keith Patterson at Abilene Christian and GJ Kinne at Texas State, and apparently, both coaches are cool with switching things up.

*We’re willing to buy our contract out of ACU,* McGuire said. He pointed out that Texas has the money to do the same.

*There’s no way they’re talking us because Sark’s a pretty tough guy. His teams are really tough, and I would think that if he was talking about us, he would call us out, right?* he added, sounding half-serious, half-provocative.

The Financials and Logistics

McGuire doesn’t think money should be a problem for Texas. He even mentioned that megabooster Cody Campbell has been in touch with Stephen Jones to help make the switch happen.

*If they don’t want to come to Lubbock, then we’re going to work on trying to get to AT&T Stadium,* McGuire said. The Red Raiders are open to playing at a neutral site if that’s what it takes.

The two teams have a long history—over 70 games as Big 12 and Southwest Conference rivals. McGuire’s Red Raiders upset Texas in their last Lubbock meeting in 2022, but Texas answered back with a 57-7 blowout in Austin.

Strength of Schedule Debate

Sarkisian’s comments came during a talk at the Touchdown Club in Houston about strength-of-schedule ratings. Folks in the SEC have complained that the committee doesn’t respect tough schedules enough, especially after Texas (at 9-3) missed the College Football Playoff.

*There’s a team in our state that plays in another conference that has a schedule that I would argue if I played with our twos and our threes, we could go undefeated, and they’ll probably make the CFP this year,* Sarkisian said. McGuire saw these remarks online and asked a staff member to check the full context, just to be sure he wasn’t missing anything.

Texas Tech’s Road to the CFP

Texas Tech grabbed the No. 4 seed and a first-round College Football Playoff bye after winning the Big 12 for the first time. Their run ended with a 23-0 loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl.

Still, both Texas and Texas Tech are seen as top CFP and conference title contenders heading into 2026. Texas has one of the toughest schedules in college football, including a big home game against Ohio State.

Texas Tech, on the other hand, doesn’t face a Power Four nonconference opponent. They also miss both BYU and Utah, which might make their path a bit easier.

Historical Context and Future Implications

The rivalry between Texas and Texas Tech goes way back. They’ve played more than 70 times, with plenty of memorable moments along the way.

McGuire’s challenge isn’t just about trash talk. It’s about setting a tone for the future, especially with both teams eyeing CFP and conference titles.

The Stakes are High

If the Week 1 game happens, it’s a huge test for both programs. For Texas, it’s a chance to prove their schedule gripes are legit and that they’re ready for top-tier competition.

For Texas Tech, it’s a shot to back up their Big 12 championship and show they’re real CFP contenders. Hosting the game at AT&T Stadium, as McGuire suggested, would draw a massive crowd and a ton of attention.

The national spotlight would be on Texas and Texas Tech, making it one of the most anticipated games of the season. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to see that?

Conclusion: Will It Happen?

McGuire’s challenge is out there. Now, it’s really up to Sarkisian.

There’s no real shortage of money or resources. The logistics? Doable, if everyone’s motivated.

But will Sarkisian and the Longhorns actually take the bait and face the Red Raiders in Week 1? That’s the question hanging in the air.

If this game comes together, it’s bound to be a spectacle. Honestly, it’d kick off the college football season with a bang.

Guess we’ll all be waiting on Sarkisian’s answer. For more on this, check out the full article [here](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/texas-techs-joey-mcguire-challenges-texas-steve-sarkisians/).