Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has stated that several prominent college football programs, including USC, Texas A&M, and NC State, have refused to schedule games against the Red Raiders. McGuire explained that these rejections by major programs hinder Texas Tech's ability to improve its strength of schedule, a key metric used by the College Football Playoff selection committee.
According to McGuire, despite earnest efforts and discussions with various teams, Texas Tech has been unable to secure top-tier opponents for its non-conference schedules in the coming seasons. He indicated that "everybody’s told us no" when asked about scheduling conversations.
The perceived strength of schedule is a significant factor in college football rankings and playoff discussions. Teams in conferences like the Big Ten and SEC often emphasize their demanding schedules as a justification for their strength compared to teams in other leagues. McGuire suggested that if these powerhouse programs are unwilling to play Texas Tech, it weakens their arguments about strength of schedule.
McGuire acknowledged that there may be reasons why some programs are hesitant to schedule Texas Tech, possibly referencing past controversies. However, he argued that such avoidance warrants criticism of those schools and their conferences, particularly when they contend that their opponents present a tougher challenge. Texas Tech has invested in its program with the goal of competing at the highest level, and McGuire believes teams should provide opportunities for such matchups rather than sidestepping them.
"We’re talking to everybody and anybody. So far, everybody’s told us no," McGuire told On3.
Texas Tech aims to build a competitive team capable of making the playoffs. McGuire has previously stated that the team is embracing the role of a "villain" in college football. He posited that instead of avoiding the Red Raiders, other teams should be willing to play them to prove their own strength.