Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire has thrown down a gauntlet, publicly challenging Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian to schedule a Week 1 game for the 2026 college football season. This bold proposition comes in the wake of Sarkisian’s recent remarks regarding the strength and perceived ease of Texas’s upcoming schedule.
McGuire’s challenge appears to be a direct response to Sarkisian’s comments, suggesting that the Red Raiders would be eager to test the Longhorns early in the season. The potential matchup would pit two Big 12 rivals against each other at the very beginning of the college football calendar, a move that is not common but could generate significant interest.
While the specifics of scheduling such a game are complex and involve conference agreements and the broader college football landscape, McGuire’s public call-out signals a desire for a high-profile early-season contest and a direct engagement with Sarkisian’s perceived approach to schedule building.
