The week Houston circled

No. 22 Houston travels to Lubbock on Friday night to face No. 13 Texas Tech. It is the Big 12 opener for both teams.

Fritz calls it huge

At his Monday press conference, Fritz spent most of his time on the opponent and did not soften the stakes.

“It's a huge game...this is a great opponent.”

Tech's resume speaks

The Red Raiders made the College Football Playoff last season and won the Big 12. Fritz framed that as the bar his team has to clear.

“College Football Playoffs last year, won our conference, so it's going to be a tremendous challenge for us.”

Last year was a beating

Texas Tech won 35-11 at TDECU Stadium in 2025. The gap on the field was obvious, and this trip is the test of whether it closed.

Better up front, both sides

Fritz's first fix was the line of scrimmage. He said Tech's defensive line dominated the matchup, even though his defense held up in stretches.

“We've got to be better up front on both sides of the ball. They really dominated the defensive line.”

No free possessions

Houston turned it over twice early last season and never recovered the momentum. Fritz wants a clean game, and a repeat would end this one fast.

“We're gonna have to play a clean game. Can't make simple mistakes.”

The portal rebuilt the line

Fritz believes new offensive linemen plus returning players have raised the floor up front. That is the group he is betting on.

“We think we brought in some really good guys in the portal on the offensive line to join the guys that were already here.”

Hurst is the x-factor

Preseason All-American left guard Shadre Hurst gives Houston a genuinely physical piece in the interior, the kind it lacked a year ago.

New names on defense

Fritz named transfers De'Marion Thomas and Ashton Porter, plus redshirt freshman Travis Buhake, as defensive line additions and developments.

“Same thing with the defensive line. We've got some guys we developed.”

The rushing math

Last year Houston ran for barely 100 yards, only 37 from running backs, and gave up more than 200 on the ground. Both numbers have to flip.

Tech is simply bigger

Fritz noted Texas Tech's shortest offensive lineman is 6-foot-4, and that the Red Raiders replaced NFL picks with more talent. Edge David Bailey went No. 2 overall.

“Really big, long guys on the o-line and d-line.”

Hammond is no gift

Fritz rates Tech junior quarterback Will Hammond as experienced in the pocket and low on mistakes, with enough legs to punish a defense that relaxes.

“Don't rest on Hammond, he can run the ball as well.”

A familiar defensive mind

Tech coordinator Shiel Wood ran Houston's defense in 2024 and built a top-25 unit during a rebuild. His scheme has not changed much, which cuts both ways.