The rivalry began to pick up historically when Texas Tech finally joined the SWC in 1956, and they started playing Texas regularly beginning in the 1960s. Then, both teams moved to the Big 12 Conference when the SWC broke up in 1996. The Chancellor’s Spurs became the first official trophy <\/a>for the rivalry. A pair of silver spurs was passed back and forth between the chancellors of the two universities based on who won the game that season.<\/p>\n As the rivalry progressed, the Longhorns’ games at Lubbock’s Jones AT&T Stadium were always at a minimum entertaining and close games, especially when they were played later in the day and into the night.<\/p>\n An example of this was the game in Lubbock on November 1, 2008<\/a>. Texas Tech scored a touchdown with only a second remaining. Texas was the best team in the country, ranked No. 1 and undefeated entering that game. No. 7 Texas Tech, with the late Mike Leach as head coach and the Red Raiders quarterback and Texas Tech football legend Graham Harrell, had a plan to defeat the Longhorns that night.<\/p>\n There are only a few seconds left in the game, and Texas is ahead 33\u201329. Harrell throws a sideline pass that hits wide receiver Michael Crabtree. There was only one second left in the game, and Crabtree shook a Texas defensive back and ran into the end zone to win 39\u201333.<\/p>\n Red Raiders fans ran onto the field as football fans often do after a dramatic home rivalry win, and the loss led to a three-way tie <\/a>in the Big 12 South, which famously made it difficult to see who would win the BCS National Championship.<\/p>\n In 2015, Texas Tech beat Austin for the first time since 1997. Jakeem Grant scored a touchdown on a trick play that sealed the 48-45 win, and Patrick Mahomes passed for 372 yards that game.<\/p>\n In Lubbock, Texas, in 2022, Texas Tech beat Texas 34\u201337 in overtime thanks to a late field goal by Texas Tech’s Trey Wolff. Shortly after, when Texas said it was leaving the Big 12 for the SEC, the rivalry entered a new era of doubt. <\/p>\n Since they aren’t in the same conference anymore, their annual rivalry has been put on hold. But because both football programs reside in the state of Texas and have a history of taking jabs at one another through the media and via social media, there will be no letting up when these two teams play each other in a non-conference game, which may happen this season if Texas agrees to play the Red Raiders.<\/p>\n Fast forward to this week, Texas Tech is calling out Texas and saying that they can even buy out contracts for games in order to play the Longhorns in week 1.<\/p>\n NEW: Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire said he’s called Abilene Christian and Texas State in efforts to schedule Texas after Steve Sarkisian’s recent comments\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n “We would love to play the University of Texas in Week one.”<\/p>\n (h\/t @Joseph_Duarte<\/a>)https:\/\/t.co\/UFUTOAwmt0<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/yXumKFVXqo<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/eJfXdyMSy3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 On3 (@On3) May 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The Big 12 conference even sent out a social media post confirming the possibility. <\/p>\n Joey McGuire on Steve Sarkisian\u2019s comments alluding to Texas Tech\u2019s schedule.<\/p>\n Coach McGuire has talked to Texas State & Abilene Christian & would love to buy out those games to play Texas this season in Week 1. If not Lubbock, then @ATTStadium<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cWe would love to play Texas.\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) May 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Former Texas Tech football legend Patrick Mahomes sent out a social media post wanting the game to happen.<\/p>\n https:\/\/t.co\/ihsllGfeva<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/92CbDM90wb<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n TV shows, podcasts, and college football analysts are calling out the Longhorns and listing reasons why Texas should play Texas Tech this upcoming season.<\/p>\n 1. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian: We could beat Texas Tech’s schedule with ours twos and threes. Your move,\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 The Triple Option (@3xOptionShow) May 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Robert Griffin III, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2011 and played at Baylor, said that the game between the Red Raiders and Longhorns is what fans in Texas need and want.<\/p>\n Texas Tech vs Texas on September 5th would FEED FAMILIES.<\/p>\n College Football NEEDS IT!<\/p>\n \u2014 Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n A good number of college football fans would love to see Texas Tech and Texas play each other in week one.<\/p>\n Feed me Texas vs Texas Tech NOW!!!! pic.twitter.com\/aSuEiTGVyv<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) May 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n A college football analyst called out Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and said that the Longhorns should agree to play the Red Raiders this upcoming season<\/p>\n Steve Sarkisian talked a LOT of smack about Texas Tech earlier this week.<\/p>\n Texas Tech now offering to buy both Texas and Texas Tech out of their Week 1 games to make it happen.<\/p>\n Credit to Texas Tech for stepping up to the plate. Let’s see if Sark backs up his words https:\/\/t.co\/c5T0ed3sOX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) May 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n It is uncertain whether Texas will agree to play Texas Tech in week one, but time will tell whether the Longhorns decide to play the Red Raiders this upcoming season in non-conference play.<\/p>\n Latest Texas Tech News<\/p>\n Stay up-to-date on Texas Tech athletics by bookmarking\u00a0Texas Tech On\u00a0<\/a>SI and following us on\u00a0X\/Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n
2. TTU coach Joey McGuire: We’d love to play Texas.
3. TTU Booster Cody Campbell: We’ll pay the buyout for both team’s Week 1 opponents so Texas Tech and Texas can play.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
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