Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire offered to buy out the Texas Longhorns' Week 1 opponent to secure a season-opening matchup [1].
The proposal follows critical comments made by Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian regarding the Texas Tech schedule during a booster event earlier this month [2]. This public exchange highlights the escalating tension between the two in-state programs as they navigate their respective schedules.
McGuire said that Texas Tech would be willing to cover the financial costs required to remove the existing opponent from the Longhorns' calendar [4]. The move would aim to replace that game with a high-profile clash between the two U.S. teams during the first week of the 2024 season [1].
To facilitate the change, McGuire noted that other programs were prepared to cooperate. "Both ACU and Texas State are willing to pull out of Week 1 games against Texas Tech and Texas, respectively," McGuire said [3].
The offer comes as a direct response to Sarkisian's views on how Texas Tech has structured its games. By proposing a direct confrontation, McGuire is attempting to pivot the narrative from schedule strength to a head-to-head competition.
While the proposal was presented as a formal offer, some observers have questioned the feasibility of such a late-stage scheduling change. Reports vary on whether the offer is a serious logistical proposal or a strategic public relations move aimed at challenging Sarkisian's critique [4].
Regardless of the outcome, the challenge underscores the competitive friction between the coaching staffs. The potential for an in-state rivalry game to open the season would have provided a significant viewership boost for the 2024 college football calendar [1].
“"We'd be willing to buy out Texas' Week 1 opponent so we can play the Longhorns."”
This challenge represents a tactical use of public relations to counter narrative-driven criticism. In college football, schedule strength is often used as a proxy for program quality; by offering to buy out an opponent, McGuire is attempting to shift the conversation from the perceived weakness of his schedule to his willingness to face a top-tier opponent.
