Texas Tech Football Coach Criticizes Date Change for Upcoming Game

Joey McGuire says moving a Saturday game to Friday could hurt Lubbock's economy.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:00am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in shades of red and black, capturing the overlapping perspectives and competing interests surrounding a college football game schedule change.A cubist interpretation of the economic tensions surrounding a potential date change for a high-profile Texas Tech football game.Lubbock Today

Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire is questioning the decision to move an upcoming Red Raiders game from a Saturday to a Friday, arguing that the change could cause significant economic harm to the city of Lubbock. McGuire acknowledged the potential ratings boost from a Friday night game, but expressed concerns about the impact on local businesses and fans.

Why it matters

College football games are major economic drivers for host cities, bringing in tourism revenue and boosting local businesses on game days. Shifting a high-profile Texas Tech home game from a Saturday to a Friday could disrupt established patterns and negatively impact Lubbock's economy.

The details

McGuire criticized the plan to move the Red Raiders' game against the University of Houston from a Saturday to a Friday, saying he knows it's great for ratings but is concerned about the economic harm it could cause Lubbock. The coach argued that many fans and local businesses rely on the predictable Saturday game schedule.

  • The Texas Tech vs. University of Houston game is scheduled for a Friday night in the 2026 season.

The players

Joey McGuire

The head football coach for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

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What they’re saying

“I know it's great for ratings and so it's awesome that our brand is going to be the brand on Friday night,”

— Joey McGuire, Texas Tech Football Coach

The takeaway

This dispute over the game date change highlights the complex balance between maximizing media exposure and preserving the economic interests of the host community. Texas Tech and Lubbock officials will need to carefully weigh the tradeoffs as they determine the final schedule.