A Dominant Start Sets the Tone
The Texas Tech Red Raiders asserted their home-field advantage early and often, securing a 33-10 victory over the visiting Abilene Christian Wildcats on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock. The Red Raiders, ranked No. 12, controlled the pace of the game from the opening kickoff, building a substantial lead that the Wildcats could not overcome despite a late scoring surge.
With 60,229 fans in attendance, the atmosphere reflected the high expectations placed on the home squad, who improved their record to 1-0 while dropping Abilene Christian to 0-2.
Scoring Sequence and Key Plays
The Red Raiders struck first with a 14-yard run by Quinten Joyner, followed shortly by a five-yard rushing touchdown from J'Koby Williams. Both plays were capped by successful extra point kicks from Stone Harrington, giving Texas Tech a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcats answered in the second quarter with a 41-yard field goal by Brandon Perez, but the Red Raiders extended their advantage with a 23-yard field goal by Harrington.
The third quarter was defined by Texas Tech’s special teams precision. Harrington connected on three consecutive field goals from 28, 33, and 45 yards out, pushing the lead to 26-3. In the fourth quarter, Will Hammond found Malcolm Simmons for a 64-yard touchdown pass, further cementing the Red Raiders’ dominance.
Abilene Christian managed to close the gap slightly with a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown by Alex Broome, but the final margin remained comfortable for Lubbock.
