Texas Tech Coach Joey McGuire Says Major Programs Declined Scheduling Requests

The annual discussion surrounding the strength of schedule in college football consistently takes center stage during the offseason. This metric is fundamental to establishing conference dominance, influencing the College Football Playoff selection committee's rankings, and shaping public perception of a team's prowess.

As expected, the Big Ten and SEC conferences frequently feature teams with the most challenging schedules, particularly looking ahead to 2026. Programs like the Texas Longhorns could face one of the nation's most demanding paths. Ohio State's projected itinerary includes formidable road games against Texas, USC, Iowa, Nebraska, and Indiana, alongside home matchups with Oregon and Michigan, solidifying its position among the toughest slates, even for a team with an elite roster. The inherent depth and competitive nature of these two premier conferences, especially the SEC, mean most of their member institutions contend with rigorous schedules.

However, the narrative shifts when considering other Power 4 conferences. Few observers would argue that the ACC or Big 12, for instance, typically navigate schedules as formidable as those of Texas or Ohio State in 2026. Institutions within the SEC and Big Ten are quick to highlight this disparity, often asserting during playoff debates that a 9-3 record in the SEC holds different weight than a similar record in the Big 12, a point that often carries some validity.

The Red Raiders' Scheduling Frustrations

From the perspective of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, there's a specific explanation for why their strength of schedule might appear less daunting: they claim other programs are unwilling to play them. Head coach Joey McGuire revealed that despite extensive efforts and conversations with significant programs such as USC, Texas A&M, and NC State, the Red Raiders have been unable to secure top-tier non-conference opponents for future seasons.

“We’re talking to everybody and anybody. So far, everybody’s told us no,” McGuire reportedly stated.

Questions of Fairness and Program Ambition

While there might be understandable reasons for some teams to decline matchups with the Red Raiders, potentially including lingering dissatisfaction stemming from the handling of the Brandon Sorsby situation, this scenario also prompts legitimate scrutiny of the involved schools and their respective conferences, particularly concerning how they evaluate the all-important strength of schedule metric. Texas Tech cannot unilaterally elevate the competitive level of its entire conference, but it actively seeks to bolster its schedule by pursuing games against traditional powerhouses like Texas A&M, USC, or Texas. If these prominent programs consistently refuse to schedule Texas Tech, it begs the question of how they can then criticize the Red Raiders for not engaging in enough challenging contests.

Despite any past controversies, McGuire has expressed a desire for his team to embrace a