# Houston–Texas Tech football rivalry

The Houston–Texas Tech football rivalry is a college football rivalry between the University of Houston Cougars and the Texas Tech University Red Raiders. The rivalry dates back to 1951.

## Series history

Historically, Texas Tech and Houston are original rivals. After several matchups in the 1950s, the two teams played each other every year from 1976 to 1995, when both schools were part of the now-defunct Southwest Conference. The two teams have had numerous close games over their history, with 14 matchups being decided by 7 points or less (including a tie in 1987). On September 4, 2021, the two met again to play the Texas Kickoff game at NRG Stadium. After the game, several fans broke out into a fight in the stands.
After having received an invitation in September 2021, Houston announced that they would join the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023, which meant that the rivalry would resume as a conference game for the first time since the breakup of the Southwest Conference.

### Notable games

November 20, 1976: Referred to as "the most important game in Texas Tech history" at the time by SWC personality Dirk West, No. 5 ranked Texas Tech hosted No. 9 ranked Houston with a spot in the Cotton Bowl on the line. The Cougars would pull out a 27–19 victory, holding off a Rodney Allison-led comeback in the 4th quarter with a game-saving interception by defensive back Elvis Bradley.
November 25, 1978: Ranked No. 5 in the nation and riding an eight-game win streak, Houston suffered a shock 22–21 upset at Texas Tech thanks to a game-winning two-point conversion pass from Ron Reeves to James Hadnot. It was the Red Raiders' first win over the Cougars since 1959.
September 26, 2009: Playing each other for the first time since 1995 after the breakup of the Southwest Conference, No. 17 Houston came away with a thrilling 29–28 victory over Texas Tech after star quarterback Case Keenum ran for a touchdown with less than a minute remaining in the game.
September 10, 2022: Looking for their first win at Texas Tech since 1990 and needing one more defensive stop on 4th and 20 in overtime, No. 25 Houston gave up a 21-yard pass completion from Donovan Smith to Jerand Bradley on the way to a 33–30 double-overtime loss. Ironically, after the season, Smith would transfer to Houston.

## Game results

Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game.
| Houston victories | Texas Tech victories | Tie games |
| No. | Date | Location | Winning team | Winning team | Losing team | Losing team |
| 1 | October 6, 1951 | Houston | Houston | 6 | Texas Tech | 0 |
| 2 | November 1, 1952 | Lubbock | Houston | 20 | Texas Tech | 7 |
| 3 | November 21, 1953 | Houston | #17 Texas Tech | 41 | Houston | 21 |
| 4 | November 20, 1954 | Lubbock | Texas Tech | 61 | Houston | 14 |
| 5 | October 22, 1955 | Houston | Houston | 7 | Texas Tech | 0 |
| 6 | November 24, 1956 | Lubbock | Houston | 20 | Texas Tech | 7 |
| 7 | November 29, 1958 | Houston | Houston | 22 | Texas Tech | 17 |
| 8 | November 14, 1959 | Lubbock | Texas Tech | 27 | Houston | 0 |
| 9 | November 20, 1976 | Lubbock | #9 Houston | 27 | #5 Texas Tech | 19 |
| 10 | November 19, 1977 | Houston | Houston | 45 | #16 Texas Tech | 7 |
| 11 | November 25, 1978 | Lubbock | Texas Tech | 22 | #5 Houston | 21 |
| 12 | November 24, 1979 | Houston | #9 Houston | 14 | Texas Tech | 10 |
| 13 | November 22, 1980 | Lubbock | Houston | 34 | Texas Tech | 7 |
| 14 | November 21, 1981 | Houston | Houston | 15 | Texas Tech | 7 |
| 15 | November 20, 1982 | Lubbock | Houston | 24 | Texas Tech | 7 |
| 16 | November 19, 1983 | Houston | Houston | 43 | Texas Tech | 41 |
| 17 | November 24, 1984 | Lubbock | Houston | 24 | Texas Tech | 17 |
| 18 | November 23, 1985 | Houston | Houston | 17 | Texas Tech | 16 |
| No. | Date | Location | Winning team | Winning team | Losing team | Losing team |
| 19 | November 25, 1986 | Lubbock | Texas Tech | 34 | Houston | 7 |
| 20 | November 21, 1987 | Houston | Tie | 10 | Tie | 10 |
| 21 | November 19, 1988 | Lubbock | #17 Houston | 30 | Texas Tech | 29 |
| 22 | November 25, 1989 | Houston | #13 Houston | 40 | #18 Texas Tech | 24 |
| 23 | September 13, 1990 | Lubbock | #18 Houston | 51 | Texas Tech | 35 |
| 24 | November 30, 1991 | Houston | Texas Tech | 52 | Houston | 46 |
| 25 | November 21, 1992 | Lubbock | Texas Tech | 44 | Houston | 35 |
| 26 | November 20, 1993 | San Antonio | Texas Tech | 58 | Houston | 7 |
| 27 | November 19, 1994 | San Antonio | Texas Tech | 34 | Houston | 0 |
| 28 | November 25, 1995 | Houston | Texas Tech | 38 | Houston | 26 |
| 29 | September 26, 2009 | Houston | #17 Houston | 29 | Texas Tech | 28 |
| 30 | November 27, 2010 | Lubbock | Texas Tech | 35 | Houston | 20 |
| 31 | September 23, 2017 | Houston | Texas Tech | 27 | Houston | 24 |
| 32 | September 15, 2018 | Lubbock | Texas Tech | 63 | Houston | 49 |
| 33 | September 4, 2021$^A$ | Houston | Texas Tech | 38 | Houston | 21 |
| 34 | September 10, 2022 | Lubbock | Texas Tech | 33 | #25 Houston | 30 $^{2OT}$ |
| 35 | September 30, 2023 | Lubbock | Texas Tech | 49 | Houston | 28 |
| Series: Houston leads 18–16–1 |||||||