No. 13 Texas Tech prepares for Friday’s Big 12 Opener vs. No. 22 Houston - KCBD

No. 13 Texas Tech hosts No. 22 Houston Friday evening in Lubbock as both teams open Big 12 play undefeated.

The Red Raiders come in 2-0 after wins over Abilene Christian and Oregon State, while Houston sits at 2-0 heading into its first conference test. Head coach Joey McGuire says the Cougars look nothing like the team Tech blew out 35-11 last season at TDECU Stadium. He credited Houston's roster overhaul, saying it "wasn't cheap" and warned against judging this year's squad by last year's result.

McGuire's comments matter because Tech enters the game ranked ahead of Houston, a reversal from where these programs sat not long ago. Folks in Lubbock aren't just tracking a rivalry score. They're watching whether Tech can prove last year's win over Houston wasn't a fluke against a rebuilding team. A ranked matchup this early in conference play also raises the stakes for Tech's Big 12 positioning right out of the gate.

For neighbors heading to the stadium or watching from home, this is the first real gut check of the season. Only one team leaves Friday still perfect. McGuire's own words suggest he's treating Houston as a completely different opponent than the one his team dominated a year ago, and that's not something a coach says about a team he expects to beat easily again.