No. 12 Texas Tech Opens Big 12 Play Against No. 23 Houston: What to Know

Wreck 'Em Tech! Football is nearly back, and conference play is right around the corner, too. Here's a look at our Red Raiders' first ranked matchup against an ambitious Houston team on Friday, September 18th.

Note Tech has two nonconference games before Houston:  Abilene Christian on Sept. 5 and Oregon State on Sept. 12. Supporting our team in nonconference play is a great way to get them fired up for the Fall season!

Texas Tech and Houston Enter as Ranked Teams

According to the AP Poll, Texas Tech ranks as an incredibly impressive No. 12, well earned considering our Red Raiders are the  Big 12's highest-ranked team and are expected to defend our conference crown.

Read More: Texas Tech's No. 12 AP Ranking, Highest In The Big 12

The Quarterback Question for Texas Tech

The seemingly obvious challenge to overcome is the loss of QB Brendan Sorsby after his conduct off the field led to a, shall we say, mostly mutual parting of ways between the teams. While Sorsby had the potential to help Tech towards victory, he never played an official game, so there's really no telling if he would have meshed with our other amazing players anyway. Will Hammond is Tech's starting quarterback after his recovery from an ACL injury in 2025. He's hardly an unknown player and has already proven formidable. This is his time to shine.

Read More: Tommy Castellanos Expected To Join Texas Tech As Backup QB

How to Watch Texas Tech vs. Houston

Of course, the best way to experience the game is at Always Forever The Jones Galaxy Stadium, but ticket availability is currently very limited. Hop on that ASAP if you haven't bought tickets yet. Fans are encouraged to wear black. If you are catching it on TV, FOX has the rights to show it. Of course you can always saddle up at your favorite sports bar and have some wings or brews, too. The game starts at 7 p.m., and it's a Friday night- the perfect time for all the action.