The 2025-26 season will be one of the most anticipated campaigns in the history of the Texas Tech basketball team.
Coming off an appearance in the Elite Eight, returning reigning Big 12 player of the year JT Toppin and locking down head coach Grant McCasland with a new, financially-lucrative contract, the Red Raiders are among the teams expected to compete for a national championship when the 2026 NCAA Tournament heads to Indianapolis for the Final Four.
To get ready for the road ahead, the Red Raiders have upped their non-conference schedule a bit. The Big 12 Conference is officially shifting back to an 18-game league schedule this season after playing a 20-game slate for the 2024-25 season. This gives teams up to 13 non-conference games to fill before league play begins.
The league no longer has the Big 12/Big East Battle, which concluded last season. Texas Tech is supposed to finally open its home-and-home series with Texas A&M, but that still needs to be sorted out.
Here’s who the Red Raiders will face in the non-conference portion of the schedule. This page will be updated when new games are announced or become known.
Texas Tech basketball 2025-26 non-conference schedule
Tuesday, November 4: vs. Lindenwood, 7 p.m.
The Red Raiders will begin the 2025-26 season at home, hosting Lindenwood inside United Supermarkets Arena. The Lions went 16-17 overall and 10-10 in Ohio Valley Conference play last season. Lindenwood is receiving a $130,000 guarantee for the game.
Tuesday, November 11: at Illinois, TBD
The Red Raiders and Illini will begin a home-and-home series this season that will see Illinois visit Lubbock sometime during the 2026-27 season. These games will be the first-ever meetings between the two programs.
Thursday, November 20: vs. Wake Forest, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, November 21: vs. Purdue or Memphis (Baha Mar Championship)
Texas Tech will head to the Bahamas for a pair of games the week before Thanksgiving. The Red Raiders will take on Wake Forest on Nov. 20 and either Purdue or Memphis on Nov. 21. Tech previously went to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis during the 2023-24 season.
Sunday, December 7: vs. LSU at Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Time TBD
This game still needs to be finalized, but the expectation is Texas Tech will participate in the US LBM Coast to Coast Challenge for the third straight year, each time taking on an opponent from the Southeastern Conference. LSU is expected to be the opponent. Texas Tech is set to receive no less than $115,000 worth of NIL opportunities for the players to participate in this year’s event.
Saturday, December 13: vs. Arkansas at American Airlines Arena, Dallas, Time TBD
The Sweet 16 rematch was first reported by Jon Rothstein on June 20 and has yet to be officially announced. Texas Tech and Arkansas played one of the more exciting NCAA Tournament games of 2025 where the Red Raiders overcame a 16-point deficit and won in overtime to advance to the Elite Eight.
Saturday, December 20: vs. Duke at Madison Square Garden, New York, Time TBD
Another game that needs to be finalized sees Texas Tech heading to the Big Apple to take on Duke in a marquee neutral site game in non-conference play. An announcement is expected at a later date.
Monday, December 22: vs. New Orleans, Noon
Texas Tech closes its pre-Christmas schedule with a home game against New Orleans. The Privateers were 4-27 overall and 2-18 in Southland Conference play in 2024-25. New Orleans is receiving a $120,000 game guarantee from Tech.
TBD: vs. Wyoming, Time TBD
This is the second of a two-game series in Lubbock that was agreed to last summer. The Cowboys receive another $150,000 guarantee to return to United Supermarkets Arena. Texas Tech whooped Wyoming 96-49 in last year’s contest. Originally scheduled for Nov. 19, the game will be moved to another day due to Tech’s inclusion in the Baha Mar Championship.
Big 12 scheduling matrix
The Big 12 Conference released its scheduling matrix for the 2025-26 season on June 12. Teams will have three opponents they’ll play at home and on the road, and six teams each they’ll play either at home or on the road. Here’s who Texas Tech will be playing.
Home & road: BYU, Colorado and Houston
Home only: Cincinnati, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU and Utah
Road only: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, UCF, Iowa State and West Virginia
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: What is Texas Tech basketball’s schedule for the 2025-26 season? Tracking the games
Reporting by Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
