Is the seventh game of the season becoming an unlucky number for Joey McGuire's Red Raiders? Saturday's 37–24 loss at Cincinnati gave Texas Tech its first defeat of 2026 and extended a curious streak: Tech has now lost Game 7 four straight seasons.
McGuire's teams are 1–4 in their seventh game since he took over in 2022. His lone win came in his first season: a 48–10 win over West Virginia.
Joey McGuire's Game 7 record
2022: Beat West Virginia, 48–10
2023: Lost to Kansas State, 38–21
2024: Lost to Baylor, 59–35
2025: Lost at Arizona State, 26–22
2026: Lost at Cincinnati, 37–24
Last season's loss was especially painful. No. 7 Texas Tech fell at Arizona State after Raleek Brown scored a late touchdown.
Of course, there's no evidence of an actual jinx. But four consecutive losses in the same spot on the schedule make for an unusual footnote to McGuire's tenure.
Texas Tech is now 6–1 and heads into an 11 a.m. Halloween matchup with Arizona looking to bounce back.
