Joey McGuire calls Steve Sarkisian’s bluff, dares to play Texas Tech in Week 1

Steve Sarkisian has been challenged to back up his words on the football field this coming season by Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire, the latest in a war of words between two universities in the Lone Star State.

At a time when many schools are looking to sit out games against non-conference opponents that could put a dent in their records, the Red Raiders actually called the Longhorns to the table because of comments made by their head coach. And, Texas Tech isn’t looking to wait to get this game on the schedule.

Last week, during an event at the Houston Touchdown Club, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian may not have specifically named the Red Raiders when answering a question about the strength of the schedule within college football, but it really wasn’t necessary.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

“There is a team in our state that plays in another conference that has a plan that I would oppose if I play two and three of us, we can end up undefeated, and they will probably enter the CFP this year,” said Steve Sarkisian.

Obviously, the Texas head coach likes the strength of his football team this coming season, with Arch Manning leading the offense at quarterback, and a talented group on defense.

But, he should have known that his comments would go out of the room in Houston and land in Lubbock, Texas.

The Red Raiders want the Longhorns in 2026 after Sarkisian’s gun

In fact, the only team he could call that way was Texas Tech, which didn’t hold back on spending money to put together a roster capable of competing for the Big 12 title, and making the playoffs.

And yes, those odds paid off when linebacker Brendan Sorsby was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for gambling and betting on his own team while at Indiana.

BRENDAN SORSBY ON THE WAY: NCAA GABLING PROBE COULD END TEXAS TECH QB’S COLLEGE CAREER

But if there’s one thing we know about Joey McGuire, it’s that he won’t just roll over and let someone talk about his team without backing down.

“You know, Sark, we played with him. We got kicked out last time we played, we’re 1-1 against Texas since I’ve been here. I said, ‘There’s no way they’re talking about us,’ because Sark is a tough guy,” McGuire said. “His teams are really tough, and I would think if he was talking about us, he would call us and just say ‘Oh, there’s another team in our district.’ So I think he was talking about us.

“Actually I talked to Keith Patterson and I talked to DJ Kinney, and they are willing to take our games, and Abilene Christian will go to Texas State, we will buy our contract from Abilene Christian. I’m sure, because Texas has a lot of money, they can buy their contract out. But, I know there is a lot of that contract from the Raiders when they will buy Red.”

Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire calls a timeout during an NCAA college football game against BYU in Lubbock, Texas, on Nov. 8, 2025. (Annie Rice/AP)

Joey McGuire talks about two options for a potential rivalry

I get it. I think the college football world gets it. The two schools have rarely met on the field during the regular season in recent years.

Having played more than 70 games against each other during their history, often when they were both members of the Southwest Conference and the Big 12, the Longhorns got the last laugh in 2022 after defeating Texas Tech 57-7.

Joey McGuire doesn’t dwell on the past, though. He’s obviously doing everything he can to get this in the upcoming schedule, which would require Texas Tech to buy its game against Abilene Christian.

“They can come to Lubbock the first week. We can find out if there are any 2’s and 3’s that can win this conference,” McGuire said at the Big 12 meetings. “I know a lot of people are going to say a lot of things about me, or about me. We didn’t score in the playoffs. You can take a shot at us for that, we didn’t score in the playoffs. The last time we played Texas we got beat 57-7, and he played some of his 2 and 3. They kicked without us.

“But, I know he feels really good about his team, he made that comment. But, we would like to play one week for the University of Texas in Lubbock. I know Cody Campbell reached out to Steven Jones, so if they don’t want to come to Lubbock, we’ll try to get At & T (Field) one week. So, if we want to play one week.”

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian stands on the field before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, Nov. 22, 2025. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Yes, those are fighting words, with the financial backing of Red Raiders megabooster Cody Campbell trying to help make this game a reality.

Is that so?

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

I reached out to Abilene Christian for comment:

“We plan to play Texas Tech as scheduled on Sept. 5 in Lubbock. We look forward to playing the Red Raiders barring any changes.”

So, you say there is a chance?