The No. 22 Houston Cougars visit the No. 13 Texas Tech Red Raiders on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET from Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Both teams enter at 2-0, with Houston coming off wins over Oregon State (33-20) and Southern (77-6) and Texas Tech off wins over Abilene Christian (33-10) and Oregon State (35-24).
Houston’s offense has set the early pace. Conner Weigman has thrown for 425 yards and four touchdowns with one interception through two games, and the Cougars are averaging 55 points per game.
Texas Tech has answered with its own aerial production. Will Hammond has passed for 487 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, and the Red Raiders are completing 75.8% of their passes, 10th in FBS.
The Red Raiders are 7.5-point favorites over the Cougars at DraftKings, with a total of 52.5 and a moneyline of -306 for Texas Tech and +240 for Houston.
Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.
How to Watch Houston vs. Texas Tech
- When: Friday, September 18, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET
- Where: Galaxy Stadium, Lubbock, TX
- TV: FOX
- Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
Gamers to Watch
Texas Tech’s passing assault is buzzing at a 75.8 p.c completion clip, tenth in FBS, and Hammond is the quarterback making that effectivity journey. By means of two video games he has thrown for 487 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception whereas the No. 13 Crimson Raiders sit at 2-0 getting into Massive 12 play.
Houston has allowed 251.5 passing yards per sport thus far, so Hammond’s job is to remain on schedule towards a Cougars protection that has in any other case been stout. Clear intermediate throws and restricted empty drives give Texas Tech its clearest path to controlling this Friday night time opener at Galaxy Stadium.
When Houston hundreds as much as gradual the cross, Williams turns into the Crimson Raiders’ downhill reply. He leads Texas Tech with 187 speeding yards and a couple of speeding touchdowns by two video games, giving Lubbock a second gear behind Hammond.
Houston is permitting solely 10.0 speeding yards per sport, the type of run protection that may take a look at each cutback. Williams profitable early downs and forcing the Cougars out of sunshine bins opens the remainder of Texas Tech’s playbook in a top-25 Massive 12 kickoff.
Houston is averaging 55.0 factors per sport after two wins, and Weigman is the quarterback who has to maintain that tempo alive on the street. He has thrown for 425 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception whereas the No. 22 Cougars open convention play at Texas Tech.
The Crimson Raiders are permitting 17.0 factors and 268.0 passing yards per sport, so the window is there if Weigman stays aggressive with out feeding takeaways. Timing throws and ending drives hold Houston from letting Texas Tech dictate a Friday night time monitor meet.
Houston’s floor sport is the clearest early identification on the roster, rating fifth nationally with 31 speeding first downs and posting 308.0 speeding yards per sport. Hughes leads that cost with 142 speeding yards and a couple of speeding touchdowns by two contests.
Texas Tech is permitting solely 65.0 speeding yards per sport, which makes each profitable early-down run a press release. Hughes getting north-south and forcing the Crimson Raiders to crowd the field creates room for Weigman to work on the perimeter.
Houston vs. Texas Tech Odds
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