Coaches Exchange Jabs in Texas Football Scene

The current gusts of wind sweeping through Texas aren’t necessarily indicative of tornadoes, but they definitely reflect the heated exchanges among college football coaches. Recently, Steve Sarkisian, the Texas Longhorns coach, took a subtle jab at the strength of Texas Tech’s schedule. In response, Joey McGuire, the head coach of the Red Raiders, appeared to welcome the challenge, even going as far as to suggest cancelling a non-conference game against Abilene Christian just to face the Longhorns.

Now, let’s be clear—this matchup will likely never happen. Historically, Texas and Texas Tech haven’t cancelled games against non-conference opponents, and neither the NCAA nor the conference typically allows for that sort of adjustment.

Still, I think the Longhorns should think carefully before entertaining McGuire’s proposal. Adding Texas Tech to their schedule seems risky. Why would Texas want to complicate an already challenging slate? In a climate where some teams are choosing to drop tough non-conference opponents to boost their playoff chances, agreeing to this can seem counterintuitive.

Take last season, for example. The Longhorns finished with a 9-3 record, narrowly missing the playoffs while proving they were among the nation’s elite with a strong 3-1 record against top-10 teams. It’s interesting to consider; if Texas had opted for an easier opponent instead of Ohio State in Week 1, their chances of making the College Football Playoff would have likely improved.

This year is no different. Sarkisian’s crew is set to face Ohio State again, along with UTSA and Texas, both of whom had bowl appearances last season. The schedule isn’t soft by any means—a couple of home games against formidable teams like Florida and Ole Miss will add to the burden, as will away games against SEC rivals Tennessee and LSU, along with the annual clash against Texas A&M.

Three of these opponents participated in the playoffs last year, and both LSU and Tennessee are expected to show significant improvement in the upcoming season. When you recall that Florida usually fields a strong roster—regardless of their record—it’s daunting to think of how challenging Texas’ schedule will be come 2026.

In this imagined scenario with Texas Tech, losing might carry far more weight than a win would add to Texas’ resume. It’s clear why McGuire would push for such an encounter; it adds to Tech’s schedule strength while his team could use the opportunity to bolster their standing.

That said, the SEC often faces criticism for taking on “cupcake” opponents, and examining Texas’ lineup often reveals a similar overreach. Although it’s unlikely this hypothetical matchup will come to fruition, it’s worth noting that both Texas and Texas Tech have a path to play each other in the playoff setting. However, introducing potential for loss in the regular season could complicate matters unnecessarily. That seems to be the tricky state of college football these days.