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ACU Falls to Lamar 21-14 Before Matchup at No. 12 Texas Tech - roundtable.io
Abilene Christian dropped its season opener 21-14 to Lamar in Beaumont on Saturday, meaning Texas Tech's first opponent of the 2026 season arrives in Lubbock already sitting at 0-1. The Wildcats had a shot to tie or take the lead late, but quarterback John David Black, playing in his first collegiate game, was tackled a yard short on a fourth-down 2-point conversion attempt in the final seconds.
The Wildcats had a shot to tie or take the lead late, but quarterback John David Black, playing in his first collegiate game, was tackled a yard short on a fourth-down 2-point conversion attempt in the final seconds. It wasn't enough to overcome Lamar quarterback Aiden McCown, who threw three touchdown passes on the day. McCown is the son of NFL veteran Josh McCown.
Black did show flashes, completing his first 11 passes of his college career before the game slipped away from ACU.
For Red Raider fans thinking about that 2026 matchup, the result gives a first real read on what ACU is working with this year. The Wildcats are a smaller program stepping into a No. 12-ranked Texas Tech schedule, and they'll carry a loss into that game. Whether that makes them a lighter warmup or a desperate team with something to prove is a fair question to sit with.
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