Texas Tech Coach McGuire Says Major Programs Declining Non-Conference Game Requests

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has publicly stated that several prominent college football programs have declined the Red Raiders’ attempts to schedule non-conference games in the coming years. McGuire told Brett McMurphy and On3 that USC, Texas A&M, NC State, and other major schools have rebuffed Texas Tech’s overtures despite ongoing conversations with those institutions.

“We’re talking to everybody and anybody. So far, everybody’s told us no,” McGuire said when discussing the team’s scheduling challenges. The inability to land high-profile opponents threatens to undermine Texas Tech’s strength of schedule, a metric that significantly influences College Football Playoff selection deliberations and national perception of program quality.

Strength of schedule has emerged as a central talking point during the 2025-2026 offseason, with SEC and Big Ten programs frequently leveraging their tougher non-conference matchups as evidence of superiority. Programs like Texas and Ohio State have assembled particularly demanding slates featuring marquee opponents, while ACC and Big 12 teams face steeper hurdles in comparison.

While various reasons may explain why prominent programs avoid Texas Tech, the Red Raiders argue the rejections reflect a broader pattern that undermines legitimate discussions about competitive balance. McGuire has indicated his team is committed to building a playoff contender and establishing itself among college football’s elite programs.