Texas Tech football will open Big 12 play on Friday night against Houston and close the 2026 regular season on Thanksgiving Day versus TCU in Lubbock.
Texas Tech football schedule news arrived Friday with two notable changes to the Red Raiders’ 2026 home slate, and both could bring extra attention to Joey McGuire’s team.
Texas Tech will now begin Big 12 play against Houston on Friday, Sept. 18, before wrapping up the regular season with a Thanksgiving Day home game against TCU on Nov. 26 at Jones AT&T Stadium.
For the Red Raiders, the Friday night move creates an early spotlight game in conference play.
A standalone window should give Texas Tech a bigger national stage, and there’s a real chance the matchup carries added weight if both teams enter the season ranked.
The Red Raiders also bring momentum into the series after winning six straight against Houston, including a 49-28 road victory last season.
The Thanksgiving switch adds even more intrigue. Texas Tech hasn’t played on Thanksgiving since 2015, when Patrick Mahomes II threw for 372 yards in a win over Texas, while DeAndre Washington ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns.
That game still stands out for Red Raider fans, and now Lubbock gets another holiday showcase nearly a decade later.
The TCU matchup also fits a recent pattern.
Since the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 in 2012, the programs have become familiar with non-Saturday meetings. Texas Tech is 3-0 against TCU in Thursday matchups during that span, including a 35-28 win in Lubbock in 2023.
The updated 2026 schedule gives Texas Tech seven home games, starting Sept. 5 against Abilene Christian.
Other home dates include Sam Houston, Arizona State, Arizona and West Virginia.
Kickoff times and TV assignments for the Houston and TCU games will come later, but the dates alone already make the Red Raiders’ home schedule a lot more interesting.
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