Texas Tech looks to sharpen defense each week after surviving Houston challenge - Dallas News

The Cougars came into Lubbock averaging 562 yards of offense and still managed 458 against Tech's defense. That's the second straight week the Red Raiders have allowed more than 450 yards, something that never happened once during their 2025 season. Head coach Joey McGuire didn't sugarcoat it after the win, saying the defense is far from a finished product.

Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood echoed that assessment. Both coaches say the unit needs to keep improving on a weekly basis, even as the wins keep stacking up. For a program chasing something bigger than a 3-0 start, allowing back to back 450-yard games against Big 12 and American Conference competition is the kind of trend that gets fixed in September or haunts a team in November.

For Tech fans, the win over Houston is proof the Red Raiders can survive a shootout style game. But surviving isn't the same as controlling one. McGuire's comments suggest the coaching staff already knows this defense hasn't shown its final form, and that the margin for error shrinks fast once conference play gets tougher.

Tech is 3-0 for the first time with a defense that hasn't looked like a 3-0 defense in two straight weeks.