A Strategic Shift in the Big 12
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has thrown his weight behind a season‑opening showdown with the University of Texas, suggesting that the game be staged at a neutral site such as AT&T Stadium in Arlington if the Longhorns prefer to avoid a homecoming in Lubbock.
The idea surfaced during the Big 12 spring business meetings in Frisco, where McGuire outlined a broader scheduling reshuffle that would bring Abilene Christian and Texas State into the conversation, aiming to create a workable slot for the high‑profile matchup.
Cody Campbell, chairman of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, has already contacted Dallas Cowboys chief executive Stephen Jones to inquire about the stadium’s availability, underscoring the seriousness of the proposal and the logistical hurdles that remain.
McGuire’s reference to Texas’ “twos and threes” was widely interpreted as a nod to comments made by Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian, hinting at a strategic calculus that could reshape non‑conference planning across the league.
The conversation also touched on the future of a potential series with Notre Dame; McGuire said Texas Tech would be eager to meet the Fighting Irish if Texas decides to step aside from its own scheduled games, even though the university already has a non‑conference slate slated for 2028 and 2029.
UT athletics director Chris Del Conte has responded with caution, describing the Longhorns’ stance as noncommittal and leaving the door open for either a continuation of the series or a pivot toward other opponents.
With Mississippi State pulling out of a planned series, Texas Tech now finds itself needing Power Four conference opponents for the 2028 and 2029 seasons, a gap that could be filled by a buyout arrangement with North Carolina State, which would owe the Red Raiders $1 million for opting out of the agreement.