LUBBOCK, Texas – And then there were none. Texas Tech and Houston signed a two-year contract to play football during the 2009 and 2010 seasons as the Cougars represent the last former Southwest Conference program the Red Raiders have not faced on the gridiron since the league was dissolved over a decade ago. The teams will meet in Houston on Sept. 26, 2009, and in Lubbock on Sept. 25, 2010.
“We are excited about the addition of Houston to the schedule,” Texas Tech Director of Athletics Gerald Myers said. “We have a long, rich tradition against the Cougars that included several exciting games. I don’t expect the next two seasons to be any different. Houston has a high-powered, potent offense and will make for an attractive matchup when the teams meet.”
Texas Tech has a five-game winning streak against Houston from 1991-95, but the two teams have not played in Lubbock since 1992. The teams played two games in San Antonio during the 1993-94 seasons and wrapped up their Southwest Conference relationship in Houston in 1995.
Four members of the SWC – Tech, Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor – joined the Big 12 Conference following the 1995 season. Texas Tech has faced three of the remaining four members – SMU (four times), TCU (twice) and Rice (once) – in the last 12 seasons.
The last time Tech and Houston met, the Red Raiders capped a successful 8-3 regular season with a 38-26 win in Houston, before advancing to the Copper Bowl in Phoenix.
Texas Tech and Houston began competing on the football field in 1951 and played eight times through the 1959 season with a year off in 1957. Not until Houston joined the Southwest Conference in 1976 did the teams meet again. The Red Raiders and Cougars faced off annually through the 1995 season.
The Red Raiders open the 2008 season against Eastern Washington on Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. in Lubbock. For ticket information, contact the Texas Tech Athletic Ticket Office at (806) 742-TECH or (888)- GO-BIG-12.