Joey McGuire did not wait for a question. Moments after No. 13 Texas Tech held off No. 22 Houston 28-26 in Friday night's Big 12 opener at Galaxy Stadium, the Red Raiders coach stepped to the podium and started handing out sarcastic thank-yous.

“A couple guys I'd like to thank before we get into questions. I'd like to thank Josh Pate,” McGuire told reporters after the game. “Keep it up, Pate. He's my buddy and everything, but keep picking against us, man. I appreciate that. You say that he's watched us the last couple weeks, so we don't look the same. We don't look the same, but we're 3-0.”

Texas Tech beats Houston 28-26 this evening.

After the game Head Coach Joey McGuire made sure to mention @JoshPateCFB and @CBSSportsCFB for picking against his team.

"We love being doubted"@KCBD11 @pchristy11 @shelbieelaine13 pic.twitter.com/8iurUXMCyg

— Justin Margolius (@JustinMargolius) September 19, 2026

He was not finished. McGuire also took aim at Rick Neuheisel and the CBS Sports crew who had gone against Texas Tech. “Coach Neuheisel, you started off on your crew, with your old crew, picking against us, man. I appreciate that,” he said. “That just adds fire to it, and man, just keep picking against us. We love that stuff. We love being doubted.”

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The game gave both sides plenty to argue about. Houston led 17-14 just before halftime after Koby Young hauled in a 46-yard touchdown, making an over-the-shoulder catch and pinning the ball against his shoulder pads while falling over the pylon. Will Hammond had earlier connected with Kenny Johnson on a 35-yard score a minute into the second quarter.

Texas Tech seized control after the break. J'Koby Williams, who managed just five yards on two carries in the first half, ripped off runs of 19, 5 and 29 yards, the last of which put the Red Raiders ahead 21-17 two and a half minutes into the third quarter. Cameron Dickey added a one-yard touchdown run with 7:36 remaining, and Tech stopped a late two-point conversion to preserve the margin.

Conner Weigman finished 27-of-38 for 282 yards in the loss. Texas Tech has now beaten Houston eight straight times.

“It just shows the resilience of this team and the belief they have in each other,” McGuire said. “There was never a time that those guys got down.”