LUBBOCK (Interstat) — Will Hammond passed for 257 yards and a touchdown, and Texas Tech held off Houston 28-26 in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium. The announced attendance was 60,229. Texas Tech improved to 3-0, while Houston fell to 2-1.

Houston struck first when J. Dimas made a 31-yard field goal with 9:27 left in the first quarter. Texas Tech answered in the second quarter when Hammond hit Kenny Johnson for a 35-yard touchdown pass down the right side. Stone Harrington added the extra point. The Red Raiders extended their lead later in the second when T. Castellanos scored on a 3-yard rush up the middle, and Harrington again converted.

Houston responded before halftime. Conner Weigman found Koby Young for a 46-yard touchdown pass down the right side, and Dimas made the extra point. The back-and-forth continued in the third quarter when J’Koby Williams broke free for a 29-yard touchdown run off the left side for Texas Tech, with Harrington kicking the extra point. Dimas later made a 28-yard field goal for Houston in the third quarter.

Texas Tech created separation in the fourth quarter when Cameron Dickey scored on a 1-yard rush up the middle, and Harrington’s extra point gave the Red Raiders a two-score cushion. Houston did not fold. With 49 seconds remaining, Weigman completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Overmyer on a short throw to the left. The Cougars attempted a 2-point conversion, but the rush failed. The previous play was placed under automatic review after a Weigman rush attempt. Texas Tech recovered and ran out the remaining time.

Weigman powered Houston’s offense throughout. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound quarterback from Cypress, Texas, completed 27 of 38 passes for 282 yards and accounted for three touchdowns while rushing 13 times for 56 yards. His ability to extend drives with both his arm and legs kept the Cougars within striking distance until the final minute. Houston finished with 26 points, but the failed conversion and a late stop by Texas Tech proved decisive.

Hammond led Texas Tech with a steady performance. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound quarterback from Austin completed 17 of 27 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown and added five rushes for 30 yards. Hammond entered the game after completing 20 of 27 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown at Oregon State on Sept. 12. Johnson was his top target, finishing with four receptions for 113 yards, two punt returns for 15 yards and one touchdown. J’Koby Williams added seven carries for 62 yards, three receptions for 14 yards and one touchdown. Coy Eakin caught three passes for 40 yards. Terrance Carter Jr. had two receptions for 34 yards, Jett Carpenter had two for 27 yards, Jalen Jones had one for 11 yards and Donte Lee Jr. had one for 5 yards.

Texas Tech’s defense swarmed Houston. Ben Roberts and Brenden Jordan each recorded 10 tackles. John Curry had eight tackles and one quarterback hurry, while Malik Esquerra also finished with eight tackles. Austin Romaine added six tackles. Brice Pollock and Davin Martin each had four tackles. Peyton Morgan, Adam Trick and Corey Platt Jr. contributed on a defense that made key stops. Trick recorded three tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Mateen Ibirogba, A.J. Holmes Jr., Trey White and Jamond Mathis each had two tackles. Holmes and White each added a sack. Jojo Johnson also had two tackles. Daniel Sill, Brock Golwas, Julien Laventure, Wesley Smith, Cord Nolan and LaDamion Guyton each recorded one tackle. Will Karoll punted three times for 176 yards. Harrington handled the kicking duties for the Red Raiders.

Houston’s defense was led by Jaden Yates, who finished with 11 tackles and half a sack. Javion White added six tackles. Sione Fotu had five tackles. Jordan Allen, De’Marion Thomas, Carmycah Glass and Kentrell Webb each recorded four tackles. The Cougars also received production from their backfield and receiving corps. Makhi Hughes rushed 15 times for 71 yards and caught two passes for 28 yards. Re’Shaun Sanford II had five carries for 30 yards and five receptions for 50 yards. DJ Butler added two carries for 11 yards. Koby Young had one rush for 10 yards, two receptions for 48 yards and one touchdown. Amare Thomas caught seven passes for 75 yards, returned one kickoff for 16 yards and scored a touchdown. Patrick Overmyer caught eight passes for 72 yards and one touchdown. Trent Walker had two receptions for 5 yards and one punt return for 22 yards. Kaleb Thomas caught one pass for 4 yards.

Houston entered the game after a 77-6 win over Southern on Sept. 12 and a 33-20 victory over Oregon State on Sept. 5. The Cougars will next travel to Georgia Southern on Sept. 26. Houston will host UCF on Oct. 3 and visit Kansas State on Oct. 10. Texas Tech had beaten Abilene Christian 33-10 on Sept. 5 and Oregon State 35-24 on Sept. 12. The Red Raiders will host Sam Houston on Sept. 26. Texas Tech will visit Colorado on Oct. 3, host Arizona State on Oct. 17, visit Cincinnati on Oct. 24 and host Arizona on Oct. 31. Texas Tech’s win kept its unbeaten start intact, while Houston absorbed its first loss of the season.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Texas Tech 35, Houston 31. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Texas Tech with an 89.8 percent probability to win. Houston had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus 7.5. The total score of 54 went under the over/under line of 52.5.