Texas Tech, Arkansas to meet in Vegas to start 2030 season
September 03, 2025 | Football
Texas Tech will maintain a seven-game home schedule in 2030 while also facing Arkansas in Vegas Kickoff Classic
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech and Arkansas formally announced Wednesday a new three-game scheduling agreement that will have the two former Southwest Conference rivals meet in the Vegas Kickoff Classic to start the 2030 season before moving to a home-and-home series for the 2031 and 2034 campaigns.
"We're looking forward to participating in our first Vegas Kickoff Classic to start the 2030 season against Arkansas," Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. "We believe the financial upside in scheduling a game in a vibrant market like Las Vegas, while maintaining a seven-game home schedule for 2030 is a win-win for Red Raiders everywhere. We appreciate the opportunity to showcase our program in front of the bright lights of Las Vegas."
Texas Tech and Arkansas are no strangers to one another with 38 all-time matchups in the series, including the most recent one to close the 2024 season at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The bowl appearance in Memphis marked the only time in the series the two schools did not meet in either Fayetteville or Lubbock.
The trip to Las Vegas fills Texas Tech's vacant open slot on its 2030 schedule as the Red Raiders will add another home date for Arkansas' previously scheduled Sept. 14 visit to Jones AT&T Stadium. Texas Tech is in the final stages of completing another non-conference agreement for the Sept. 14 date, ensuring the Red Raiders can continue to prioritize a seven-game home schedule annually.
The Vegas Kickoff Classic is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 31, 2030, at Allegiant Stadium, the home to the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders. It will be the Red Raiders' first visit to the city of Las Vegas and only its second to the Silver State after Texas Tech previously topped Nevada, 35-19, in Reno during the second week of its memorable 2008 season. The Vegas Kickoff Classic is owned and operated by ESPN.
As part of the revised agreement, Texas Tech will maintain its Sept. 13, 2031, road date at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks will return to Jones AT&T Stadium on Sept. 16 during the 2034 season to close the non-conference slate.
Once its new 2030 opponent is finalized, Texas Tech will have filled its non-conference slate for the next five seasons with four of those featuring seven home dates. The lone exception is 2027 when Texas Tech will play six home games with four coming in Big 12 play and then non-conference visits from Arkansas-Pine Bluff and N.C. State sandwiched around a visit to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to play North Texas.
For a detailed listing of Texas Tech's future non-conference schedules, please visit here.