Honestly, if you grew up anywhere near the 806 or the 512, Friday nights after Thanksgiving weren’t for shopping. They were for the Chancellor's Spurs. For decades, the Texas vs Texas Tech game was the ultimate clash of cultures—the "city slickers" from Austin meeting the "dirt doctors" from Lubbock. But then, everything changed.
The 2023 blowout in Austin, where Texas handed the Red Raiders a 57-7 loss, felt like a door slamming shut. Now that the Longhorns have officially moved to the SEC, many fans are left wondering: Did we just lose one of the best rivalries in college football forever?
Texas leads the all-time series 55-18. That’s a lopsided number, sure, but numbers don't tell the story of the tortillas flying in Lubbock or the pure, unadulterated chaos of 2008.
Why the Texas vs Texas Tech Rivalry Still Matters
It’s easy for national media to focus on Texas vs Oklahoma or the renewed Lone Star Showdown with A&M. But for Tech fans, Texas was always the "big brother" they loved to hate. This wasn't just a game; it was a referendum on respect.
Joey McGuire, the head coach at Tech, famously leaned into this. After the 2022 overtime thriller where Tech won 37-34, he didn't hold back. He basically called out the Longhorns for their hesitancy to keep the game on the schedule post-SEC.
"They should keep it going," McGuire said after that Lubbock win. "There’s a reason they don’t want to keep it going and it happened today."
He wasn't wrong.
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When you look at the landscape of the SEC in 2026, Texas has a brutal nine-game conference slate. They have to play Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Arkansas every single year. Add in rotating games against monsters like Georgia and Alabama, and suddenly, scheduling a "feisty" Texas Tech team in non-conference play looks like a massive risk for zero reward.
Texas has everything to lose. Tech has everything to gain.
The Crabtree Catch and Other Ghost Stories
You can't talk about Texas vs Texas Tech without talking about Michael Crabtree. 2008. The top-ranked Longhorns. Number seven Tech.
Blake Gideon almost had that interception. Almost. Instead, Graham Harrell found Crabtree on the sideline, he danced past a defender, and Lubbock literally shook. It’s one of the few moments in college football history that people remember exactly where they were when it happened.
But it wasn't just football.
The basketball rivalry turned into a bloodbath recently too. Remember when Chris Beard left Lubbock for Austin? The first time he returned to the United Supermarkets Arena, the atmosphere was so toxic you could practically taste it. Tech won that game 77-64, and the fans didn't stop screaming for two hours straight.
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The Current State of the Series (2025-2026)
As we sit here in 2026, the football schedules for both schools are pretty much set through 2029.
The bad news? Texas vs Texas Tech is nowhere to be found on the football field.
Texas is busy hosting Ohio State (2026) and Michigan (2027). Meanwhile, Texas Tech has locked in games against Oregon State and NC State. It seems the "Chancellor's Spurs" will be sitting in a trophy case gathering dust for a while.
- Football: No games scheduled. Texas is focused on the SEC's requirement to play one Power 4 non-conference game annually.
- Basketball: This is our best bet. While not guaranteed, non-conference matchups in the "Big 12-SEC Challenge" style or neutral site tournaments are the only way these two meet on the hardwood right now.
- Baseball: These schools still play high-level mid-week games occasionally, but it’s a far cry from a weekend series in conference play.
Steve Sarkisian has been somewhat diplomatic about it, but the reality is cold. He’s mentioned that scheduling one regional rival like Tech or Baylor makes the others mad if they aren't included. It's a "lose-lose" for recruiting too. If Texas wins, they were supposed to. If they lose, it’s a nightmare for their pitch to top Texas high school recruits.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Ending"
People think the rivalry ended because of money. Well, it did. But it also ended because of pride.
Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt has been vocal about wanting to keep the game going. He’s gone on record saying they are ready to play anytime, anywhere. Texas, on the other hand, hasn't been as eager to sign a contract.
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There's a feeling in Lubbock that Austin is trying to "erase" their history with the Big 12. By moving to the SEC, Texas is reinventing itself as a national brand rather than a regional one. Tech fans see this as a betrayal of Texas tradition.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you’re a fan who misses the 11:00 AM kickoffs and the heated Twitter (X) wars, there isn't much you can do to force the ADs to sign a deal. But you can keep the flame alive.
Keep an eye on the 2030 scheduling window. Most major programs have their "big" non-conference games booked through 2029. The early 2030s are currently being negotiated. This is the first real chance we have for a home-and-home revival.
Support the non-revenue sports. When the Longhorns and Red Raiders meet in baseball, softball, or even track and field, show up. High attendance numbers in these "smaller" matchups send a message to the decision-makers that there is still massive commercial interest in this pairing.
Check the SEC-Big 12 basketball matchups. Every year, the conferences try to align marquee games. If you see Tech vs Texas on a Tuesday night in January, buy the ticket. That atmosphere is the only thing currently keeping this rivalry on life support.
The reality of Texas vs Texas Tech in 2026 is that it’s a ghost. A very loud, very angry ghost. It took Texas and A&M over a decade to start playing again. Let’s hope it doesn't take that long for the Red Raiders and the Longhorns to find their way back to each other.