LUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 18: Kenny Johnson #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders catches a punt during the second half of the game against the Houston Cougars at Galaxy Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
John E. Moore III/Getty Images
No. 11 Texas Tech vs. Sam Houston
11 a.m. Saturday at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock
Records: Texas Tech (3-0); Sam Houston (1-2)
Article continues below this ad
Series record: Tech is 2-0 against the Bearkats with matchups in 2005 and 2015.
Last meeting: The Red Raiders defeated Sam Houston 59-45 in Lubbock behind 425 passing yards and a four-touchdown performance from Patrick Mahomes II. Tech’s only other matchup against the Bearkats in 2005 is the program’s second-highest scoring game, ending with a score of 80-21.
What’s at stake?
The Red Raiders are coming off their first Big 12 game of the season against Houston last Friday, which resulted in a 28-26 victory that came down to the wire. While the excitement of the program’s first AP Top-25 victory of the season can still be found in Lubbock, Tech has one more opponent to round out nonconference play in Sam Houston.
Head coach Joey McGuire said he would have rather gone straight into Big 12 play after the Cougars, but the Bearkats present a final opportunity for the Red Raiders to focus on areas of improvement before Big 12 play continues.
Article continues below this ad
Sam Houston is coming off its highest margin of victory since joining the FBS ranks in 2023, with a 59-0 win over Nicholls. In the two weeks prior, the Bearkats lost 24-21 to Troy and 23-17 to Tulsa.
Like McGuire, Sam Houston head coach Phil Longo said he’s also looking at his team’s contest with Tech as a barometer for what his players are capable of moving forward.
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 18: Fox Sports Sideline Reporter Josh Sims interviews Head Coach Joey McGuire and Will Hammond of the Texas Tech Red Raiders after the game against the Houston Cougars at Galaxy Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
John E. Moore III/Getty Images
When Texas Tech has the ball
A season ago, the Bearkats were the worst defensive unit in Conference USA, allowing 483.6 yards per game. Three weeks into the 2026 season, Sam Houston is allowing 193 yards fewer with an average of 290.6 yards per game.
Article continues below this ad
While the Bearkats defense has improved, Tech’s offense provides it its toughest challenge of the season. The Red Raiders’ offensive unit increasingly settled in throughout its matchup with Houston in Week 3, with Will Hammond looking very comfortable in the second half.
Hammond had several deep connections to wide receiver Kenny Johnson, who was the first Red Raider pass catcher to surpass 100-plus receiving yards this season. Head coach Joey McGuire said Hammond played angry against the Coogs, in part because Tech sent out Tommy Castellanos for the first play of the game on offense.
Tech was 6 for 10 in third-down situations against Houston and able to consistently move the chains. However, stopping opponents on third down has been a strong suit of the Bearkats this season. Sam Houston has limited opponents to 11 of 47 successful attempts on third down.
The Bearkats have also been able to cause disruption to opposing quarterbacks in a variety of ways, with nine sacks spread across 10 players. If the Red Raiders can continue to protect Hammond, the Austin native could look to build on consecutive composed performances ahead of Big 12 play.
When Sam Houston has the ball
Sam Houston quarterback Landyn Locke has had a very efficient start to the season. The Rockwall native has the seventh-most passing yards in the country with 973 yards, is tied for sixth for passing touchdowns with nine and has only one interception on the season.
Article continues below this ad
Locke’s success in the passing game has been to various receivers, with no Bearkat receiver surpassing 100-plus yards in one single matchup. While the Red Raiders’ secondary performed better against Houston last week, it gave up a 240-receiving-yard performance to Oregon State’s Jesse Legree just two weeks ago.
Longo said the Bearkats try to identify three weak links in each of their opponents’ defenses every week. However, he said Sam Houston’s coaching staff wasn’t able to identify three weak links on Tech’s defense on Tuesday.
The Bearkats have struggled to run the ball this season, as their leading rusher, Alton McCaskill, has only accumulated 140 yards. As a team, Sam Houston averages 3.3 yards per carry. On the other hand, the Red Raiders allow 3.6 yards per carry on average to opposing defenses.
Sam Houston’s offense has been able to complement its defensive effort to keep it in close games with other FBS opponents. The Red Raiders defensively are the Bearkats biggest test of the season and will prove to be a benchmark for what other C-USA teams should expect for the rest of the year.
Prediction
The Red Raiders have one final nonconference test to straighten out their flaws ahead of Big 12 play, and Sam Houston is going to do its best to provide a hurdle. The Bearkats have shown in their previous three matchups they’re a competitive team that hopes to make noise in C-USA.
Article continues below this ad
Week 4 in Lubbock isn’t going to be the place Sam Houston records an upset victory. The Red Raiders will utilize the Bearkats’ competitiveness to its advantage for one final tune-up before every game matters in the standings.
Score: Texas Tech 48, Sam Houston 14