Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech, USC set for neutral-court matchup in Fort Worth
August 31, 2026 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech and USC are set to meet against each other on the hardwood with a USLBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge Presented by Visit Fort Worth matchup on Sunday, December 13 at Dickies Arena. The game time and television coverage will be announced when available.
Tickets for the 2026 USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge Presented by Visit Fort Worth will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Thursday through Ticketmaster.com and the Dickies Arena Box Office. Fans can purchase tickets early via Ticketmaster.com starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday through 10 p.m. on Wednesday with unlock code: TXTECH. Fans interested in a custom premium experience with discounted tickets for a group of nine or more, can reach out to GroupSales@DickiesArena.com.
"We're excited to play in the DFW Metroplex where Red Raiders always show up with great energy," Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland said. "Playing at Dickies Arena is a first-class experience for our program and taking on a talented and well coached USC team will really help us get better."
The announcement completes Tech's non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 season that includes hosting Illinois (Nov. 10), traveling to Las Vegas for the Players Sixteen (Nov. 24-28) and taking on Duke (Dec. 21) at Madison Square Garden. The Red Raiders are set to host eight non-conference home games, including opening the season against Jackson State on Monday, November 2 and completing non-conference play against Mississippi Valley State on Monday, December 28 at United Supermarkets Arena. The Big 12 schedule will be announced when available.
The two programs last meet in the 2018-19 season with the Red Raiders earning a 78-63 win in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City. Tech is 2-1 in the all-time series.
Tech is coming off its third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament under McCasland and a 23-11 overall record. Through three seasons under McCasland, the Red Raiders are 74-31 after a season where the team earned a program record with four wins over Top 10 teams and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round. Tech was ranked throughout the 2025-26 season for the first time in program history – ranking as high as No. 10 and finishing the season at No. 21 in the AP Top 25.
The Trojans are coming off an18-14 record last season and aim for the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance under third-year head coach Eric Musselman. Former five-star recruit Alijah Arenas, senior guard Rodney Rice and junior forward Jacob Cofie give the Trojans three starting-caliber returners from a season ago, while the 11 newcomers give USC depth and positional size. USC welcomes three McDonald's All Americans — Christian Collins, Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff.
The Red Raiders return JT Toppin who has earned Consensus All-America honors the past two seasons along with Donovan Atwell who established a new program record by making 130 3-pointers last season. Tech has added nine newcomers in the offseason, including welcoming back Darrion Williams who played last season at NC State after previously playing two seasons for the Red Raiders. Williams was a two-time All-Big 12 selection for the Red Raiders and earned All-ACC Honorable Mention last year. Tech has also added a pair of players who averaged over 20 points per game last season in Cruz Davis from Hofstra and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn from UNLV while also signing Jamichael Stillwell who averaged 11.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game at UCF last season. Texas Tech returns to Dickies Arena for the fourth straight season and fifth time overall. The Red Raiders knocked off LSU last season in the USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge and are 2-2 all-time at Dickies Arena entering this year's matchup against USC.
The Texas Tech-USC matchup will be followed by UNT and Texas State to complete the day at the USLBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge.
"We're thrilled to bring the USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge back to Fort Worth and Dickies Arena," said Total Sports Consulting President Dan Shell. "Texas Tech and USC provide a tremendous national matchup, while North Texas and Texas State bring two strong programs with passionate fan bases from across the state. We appreciate the continued support of USLBM, Visit Fort Worth, Dickies Arena in helping us grow this event."
Follow the Red Raiders: Keep up with Texas Tech men's basketball news at TexasTech.com and at the team's social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.
