Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has issued a direct challenge to Texas A&M and other Texas institutions, urging them to schedule more non‑conference opponents from within the state. He argues that such games would not only bolster the competitiveness of Texas football but also make the state more attractive to top recruits who might otherwise look elsewhere.
The SEC's scheduling shift
The Southeastern Conference recently moved to a nine‑game schedule, carving out three slots for non‑conference matchups. In tandem, the league banned what it called "cupcake weekend," the practice of arranging low‑tier FBS opponents in the penultimate week of the season. The changes have forced programs to rethink their external slate and seek more meaningful contests.
Texas A&M's 2026 slate reflects this new reality, featuring home games against Missouri State, Arizona State and The Citadel. The Aggies also secured a high‑profile win over Notre Dame in the previous season, a victory that helped cement a College Football Playoff berth.
Reviving in‑state rivalries
McGuire points out that historic in‑state rivalries have faded as conference realignment reshaped the landscape. Texas and Texas A&M, once fierce antagonists, have reignited their rivalry now that the Longhorns have joined the SEC. Yet the two schools have not met since the Aggies departed the Big 12, and their last games against other Texas programs date back decades.
The coach recalls that Texas A&M's most recent non‑conference opponent from Texas was UTSA in 2025, a gap of six years since the program last faced an FBS team from the state outside of conference play. Re‑establishing these matchups, he says, could restore some of the regional flavor that has been lost.
A leadership vacuum
During the SEC Spring Meetings, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko highlighted the self‑interest that often drives college football decisions. He noted that the sport generates billions of dollars yet lacks a unified governing voice to coordinate scheduling, revenue distribution and competitive balance.
Elko's observations underscore a broader concern: without coordinated leadership, conferences and individual schools may pursue short‑term gains at the expense of long‑term stability for the sport as a whole.
Whether McGuire's proposal will gain traction remains uncertain. The coach acknowledges that his vision may fall on deaf ears, but he remains hopeful that more Texas‑based non‑conference games could become a staple of the state's football identity, benefiting recruits, fans and the institutions involved.