Texas Tech collared UH and Conner Weigman last season in Houston. The teams meet on Friday in Lubbock.
Jason Fochtman/Jason Fochtman / Houston Chronicle
LUBBOCK — The talent gap is shrinking in the Big 12.
Three weeks into the season, the Texas Tech coach can look around college football and “find teams that impress you.” Texas staged an epic comeback to beat top-ranked Ohio State. Defending national champion Indiana continues to roll. LSU and Miami have delivered strong starts.
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One other team has caught McGuire’s attention.
“I think Houston is the best team we’ve played in the last two years, maybe minus Oregon that day (in the College Football Playoff),” McGuire said.
Ahead of Friday night’s Top 25 showdown on the South Plains, McGuire heaped praise on the Cougars, an emerging Big 12 contender that he feels deserves far more attention.
The No. 22 Cougars (2-0) can make an early statement in the Big 12 opener against the No. 13 Red Raiders at Galaxy Stadium. It’s the first meeting in which both teams are ranked since 1989.
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“For some reason, they don’t get enough credit,” McGuire said. “For whatever reason people don’t talk about Houston, and they should.”
UH has made significant gains since going 4-8 in each of its first two Big 12 seasons. Last season’s 10-win breakthrough — combined with the return of several prominent players — has catapulted the Cougars into the discussion among teams capable of dethroning the defending conference champions.
“Man, Houston jumps off the page with the effort they are playing with,” McGuire said.
McGuire pointed to UH coach Willie Fritz’s reputation as a program builder: “Everywhere he’s gone, he’s won.” He noted offensive coordinator Slade Nagle’s long history with Fritz and called defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong “young and innovative.”
McGuire also has been impressed with UH’s roster construction, including the signing of quarterback Keisean Henderson, the No. 1 recruit in 2026. The Cougars’ transfer portal class was ranked No. 6 nationally by On3 (Tech was No. 4) and included running back Makhi Hughes and preseason All-American left guard Shadre Hurst.
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“They got the right guys in,” McGuire said.
UH also returned the core of a team that entered November still in contention for a spot in the Big 12 championship game before home losses to TCU and West Virginia.
McGuire described quarterback Conner Weigman as “elite level.” Getting pressure on Weigman is a must, Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood added, but the Red Raiders must be mindful of his ability to run. There are two significant changes from UH’s 35-11 loss last season at TDECU Stadium: the Cougars upgraded the offensive line with three new starters; Tech, meanwhile, had four defensive linemen selected in the NFL draft.
The Red Raiders’ defense must also account for All-Big 12 receiver Amare Thomas and tight end Patrick Overmyer, who have combined for 29 of the 50 targets this season.
“We’ve got to know where he is,” McGuire said of Thomas. “They move him around; that’s the tough thing. When they’re in 12 personnel, he’s playing outside. When they’re in 11 personnel, they move him in the slot. So, it’s going to be important to know exactly where he is.”
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Tech’s pass defense showed some vulnerability in Week 2, when Oregon State’s Jesse Legree had 240 yards and two touchdowns.
McGuire said UH has been “lights out on defense,” allowing a nation-leading 10 rushing yards per game.
“That’s a very well-put-together team and it wasn’t cheap,” McGuire said.
UH’s turnaround has required a sizable investment, although one that remains well below the deep-pocketed Red Raiders.
Backed by billionaire megadonor Cody Campbell, Texas Tech made headlines last year with one of the largest football roster budgets in FBS. Texas Tech is once again among the nation’s biggest spenders with a roster budget between $38 million and $42 million, according to an analysis by The Athletic. UH’s roster budget is between $15 million and $19 million, making it one of a dozen Big 12 schools below $20 million, The Athletic reported.
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A UH win Friday would introduce a new early front-runner in the Big 12 race.
And perhaps finally get people talking about the Cougars.
“We have our hands full,” McGuire said. “This is going to be a great matchup in the race for the Big 12.”