Texas Tech is set to round out non-conference play with a date against Sam Houston State. Joey McGuire feels that the Bearkats will provide a solid opportunity for the Red Raiders to reach their full potential.
LUBBOCK - For the second straight year, Texas Tech is off to a 3-0 start after a massive 28-26 home win over then-No. 22 Houston.
Much like last year, the newly ranked No. 11 Red Raiders are looking to add quite a few more victories to their record, starting with their next outing on Saturday.
Sam Houston State is the next opponent set to visit Lubbock, with the Bearkats serving as the final non-conference foe after the early Big 12 opener.
Texas Tech is unbeaten against non-conference foes at home since 2023, with No. 13 Oregon being the last team to knock off the Red Raiders.
Not counting ranked opponents, the Red Raiders have not lost to a team outside the Big 12 in Lubbock since all the way back in 2014, when Arkansas spoiled the fun in its trip.
That long streak is not one that head coach Joey McGuire wants to snap under his watch, especially against Sam Houston.
Ahead of the Bearkats' arrival at Galaxy Stadium this weekend, McGuire spoke on the matchup and the expectations for Texas Tech during his weekly press conference.
"It's going to be a good game," said McGuire. "They're really going to test us."
McGuire made note of the passing statistics for Sam Houston's quarterback Landyn Locke, who ranks ninth in the FBS with close to 975 yards through three games.
Despite getting wins over both Oregon State and Houston, Texas Tech struggled to shut down the aerial attack, even losing the passing battle to the Cougars.
"I know Coach Longo, he likes to air it out. And so it's going to be a real test for us," McGuire continued.
Outside of his knowledge that the Red Raiders need to tighten up in the secondary, McGuire shared his confidence in his own passing attack led by Will Hammond.
"He [Will Hammond] did a really good job," said McGuire about the Texas Tech quarterback's performance against Houston.
"I thought Will was extremely motivated...and then I do think you're going to see this guy week after week feeling more and more comfortable with that knee turn it loose."
Even with these presumed benefits for the Red Raiders, McGuire is not taking Sam Houston lightly, as a team nor as an opportunity for Texas Tech to grow.
"We haven't played to the level we expect to play at. And so no matter who we're playing, we're still focusing on pushing ourselves and getting better in the things that we're doing."
Texas Tech aims to keep on adding to a rocky yet successful early season with a perfect end to non-conference play.
The Red Raiders welcome Sam Houston to Galaxy Stadium at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.
