LUBBOCK, Texas -- The last time Texas Tech hosted Houston in a ranked matchup was 1976. It was the Cougars first season in the Southwest Conference after years of beating at the doors, and the Red Raiders' first chance to win an outright conference championship for the first time Houston and legendary coach Bill Yeomen spoiled the party that time, splitting the conference championship. Texas Tech would have to wait 50 more years to finally win their next outright title.
But facing their first test as reigning champions, ghosts of disappointments past weighed on the newly dubbed Galaxy Stadium. It came down to a two-point conversion attempt after No. 22 Houston stormed back to cut No. 13 Texas Tech's lead to two on a last-second touchdown drive. The crowd was on pins and needles, watching their season hang in the balance, the only ranked opponent on the schedule only two yards away from forcing overtime.
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman was pressured on the dropback and darted left. Defenders scratched and clawed, trying to drag him down as he reached for the goal line. In a mass of humanity, he was ruled down inches short, a moment straight out of a Friday Night Lights script.
Replay confirmed the call that he was short of the goaline and Texas Tech clinched its shakiest win of the past two years. But it was a win: a 28-26 Red Raiders victory. "It was kind of like a movie," wide receiver Kenny Johnson said.
"Like we were just up there, waving towels, just trying to get everybody to hype up. It was so great, the defense came up big for us." DENIED ❌@TexasTechFB stops Houston on the two-point conversion attempt! pic.twitter.com/KJ1pz1FO3T There was something off about this game. Friday nights are reserved for high school football in West Texas.
Both Texan coaches -- Texas Tech's Joey McGuire and Houston's Willie Fritz -- protested the game's presence on Friday night with hats honoring the Texas High School Coaches Association. The 90-degree desert heat mixed with an alumni base often facing drives of more than five hours to Lubbock for football games. And yet, the stadium was packed at kickoff, awaiting perhaps the biggest game of the season.
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