Houston Cougars Can Shake Up Big 12 Against Texas Tech
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Entering the 2026 college football season, many expected the Texas Tech Red Raiders to repeat as Big 12 champions.
Texas Tech landed quarterback Brendan Sorsby in the transfer portal, yet after he admitted to a gambling problem and gambling on college football games, he was deemed ineligible.
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Despite losing Sorsby, Texas Tech is still led by its defense, which makes them the top threat in the Big 12. Yet, on Friday night, the Red Raiders get their first true test in the Big 12 as the Houston Cougars visit them.
Houston is ranked 22nd and has looked good so far, as the Cougars are coming off a 77-6 win over Southern U. Their other win was over Oregon State, but Texas Tech is a step above them.
The Cougars are led by Texas A&M transfer quarterback Conner Weigman, who’s in his second season with Houston. So far, Weigman seems to have gotten more comfortable in the offense, as the passing game looks good through two games.
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Houston’s defense has been solid, but the level of competition is a concern. Yet, Texas Tech’s offense has plenty of question marks around it, as the Red Raiders are using Will Hammond and Thomas Castellanos at quarterback.
Neither Hammond nor Castellanos are elite, but Texas Tech’s defense is, which could pose problems for Houston. Ultimately, this could be a low-scoring game, and if the Cougars can pull off the upset, it will reset the Big 12.
Houston is a 7.5-point underdog, so the oddsmakers don’t expect them to win. But the Cougars have the chance to change the entire Big 12 landscape. A Texas Tech loss means their chances of winning the conference and reaching the playoffs take a hit, while BYU, which is considered the second-best team in the Big 12, would see its chances vastly increase.
So, Friday’s Houston vs. Texas Tech game is flying well under the radar, as it could very well determine who wins or plays in the Big 12 championship game.
Houston Cougars Eager for Texas Tech Challenge
Willie Fritz is in his third year as Houston’s coach, and he’s building something special.
Yet, Fritz hasn’t been able to make the Cougars a true playoff contender, but Friday’s game against Texas Tech will show if they are ready to take that step.
“It’s a huge game … this is a great opponent. They’ve done a great job there. College Football Playoffs last year, won our conference, so it’s going to be a tremendous challenge for us,” Fritz said on Sept. 14.
Heading into the game, Fritz knows Houston will have to be better than they have played to beat the Red Raiders.
“We’ve got to be better up front on both sides of the ball,” Fritz added. “They really dominated the defensive line. I thought defensively we played well at times. We’re gonna have to play a clean game. Can’t make simple mistakes, so we’re going to have to play really good.”
Houston has a relatively easy schedule, so if the Cougars beat Texas Tech, they could be the team to beat in the Big 12.
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This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Sep 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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