HOUSTON, TX – The third-largest crowd in TDECU Stadium history witnessed Texas Tech (5-0, 2-0) made a statement in a 35-11 victory over the hometown Cougars. The Red Raiders controlled the tempo and the lines of scrimmage from the jump, scoring on their first five drives and forcing a fumble on Houston’s first offensive play from scrimmage. 

Houston (4-1, 1-1) lost for the first time on the year and the worst news of the night was that quarterback Conner Weigman was knocked out of the game during the first half and never returned. The Cougars had only turned the ball over once through four games. They turned it over three times in the loss. 

The game was never close and the outcome wasn’t in doubt after the first few minutes. Texas Tech outscored Houston in every quarter and dominated in every metric. This game was about the Red Raiders’ greatness more than Houston’s ineptitude. Tech is the class of the Big 12 and there is no shame for a Coogs’ squad that has clearly made improvements in Year 2 of the Willie Fritz era. 

THREE THOUGHTS 

Defense travels: The prospect of a “Willie Fritz Trap” was broached pregame in a conversation with a Texas Tech staffer and while they agreed that the head coach at Houston is known for knocking off teams as a home underdog, they weren’t worried about it happening to the Red Raiders on Saturday night. Why? “Defense travels, man.” Indeed. 

Texas Tech’s football program never struggled to score points. It was stopping the other team from doing so that kept the Red Raiders from conference contention for the last 20-plus years. The 2025 version of Texas Tech still scores points in bunches, but the main reason why this team feels different is because the defense is dominant. 

That was on display in the win over Houston. The Cougars managed 11 points on 13 possessions. Three of those possessions ended in turnovers and three more concluded with turnovers on downs. Tech forced five punts and three three-and-outs. Houston hit one field goal and scored its lone touchdown on a 64-yard pass and catch. Take away the long touchdown pass and Houston averaged fewer than four yards per play. 

Houston was 1-of-12 on third down and managed just 12 first downs and 267 yards. Tech held the Coogs to 3.4 yards a run and were seemingly in the backfield of nearly every pass play. The constant pressure led to Houston quarterbacks combining for 164 yards, one touchdown, and two picks on 10-of-25 passing. 

Texas Tech was 6-11 on the road in McGuire’s first three seasons. They’ve won back-to-back road games against top-half of the Big 12 opponents to start 2025 and the defense is the main reason why. 

Run Raiders Run: If Texas Tech playing dominant defense wasn’t enough proof that 2025 college football exists in the Bizarro World, the Red Raiders are also built on physicality and running the football. They ran the ball 50 times compared to 40 passes. J’Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey combined for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries. Williams broke the century mark and scored both rushing touchdowns. Tech averaged 4.6 yards a rush when sack adjusted. 

Texas Tech ranked in the 60s in run offense in each of the first three seasons under McGuire despite the luxury of Tahj Brooks, the program’s all-time leader in rushing yards, in the backfield. The Red Raiders averaged 166 rushing yards per game in 2024, 162 in 2023, and 159 in 2022. So far in 2025, they’re averaging 204.5. And it isn’t because of extra attempts. They’re running the ball 37 times a game in 2025. They ran it 36 times a game in 2024 and 2023. 

Texas Tech no longer needs to pass the ball 60 times a game or for 500 yards and five touchdowns to beat good teams. That recipe is hard to repeat successfully for 12 weeks in a row and it is nearly impossible against good teams as the weather gets cold and stakes are raised. The Red Raiders can still throw the ball around the yard with success, exhibited by the 345 yards for Behren Morton against Houston. But he only threw for one touchdown and the team still won by 24 points. That’s a great sign for Tech. 

Nothing lost for Houston: The Cougars were disappointed after the loss and for good reason. This game was a great opportunity for Fritz & Co. to showcase the Cougar program to a sold-out crowd and a long list of high-profile recruits. Instead of a tight and thrilling game, the Coogs were outclassed and overmatched by a superior Texas Tech roster. Money talks and the Red Raiders are currently in a different stratosphere in spending. While they were adding pieces at every position, Houston lost its best two defensive backs to the portal – and bigger paydays – after spring ball. Until that’s fixed, Houston can’t win these games. 

But that doesn’t mean the Coogs should hang their head. A 4-1 start is nothing to sneeze at and there are two winnable games up next with a trip to Oklahoma State in Week 7 and a home game against Arizona in Week 8. West Virginia and UCF are also still on the schedule. An eight-win season isn’t out of the cards for Frtiz’s squad and a bowl bid seems assured. Year 2 is about growth and Fritz has this program headed in the right trajectory. The Cougars just need two more recruiting cycles and another offseason or two to develop before they can compete against the top of the Big 12. 

Remember, Fritz is Novocain. This will work if given time.