# Fritz: Houston's Big 12 opener runs through the trenches > Willie Fritz breaks down No. 13 Texas Tech, and his answer keeps coming back to the line of scrimmage. - Title: Fritz: Houston's Big 12 opener runs through the trenches - Summary: Willie Fritz breaks down No. 13 Texas Tech, and his answer keeps coming back to the line of scrimmage. Houston's upset chance in Lubbock lives or dies on the… - Keywords: college football, houston cougars, texas tech, big 12, willie fritz, sports, Fritz, Houston's, Big, opener, runs, through - Source: Houston Cougars On SI — https://si.com/college/houston/football/houston-coach-willie-fritz-breaks-down-no-13-texas-tech-ahead-of-huge-big-12-opener - Published: 2026-09-15T13:34:42+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: college football, houston cougars, texas tech, big 12, willie fritz, sports ## 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. ## Key takeaway Houston's upset chance in Lubbock lives or dies on the offensive and defensive lines, plus a turnover-free night.