Top transfer QB Brendan Sorsby ignites Texas Tech's offense, earning early Heisman buzz with his dual-threat prowess and proven production.
Texas Tech’s offense has its new leader, and national voices are already taking notice. Former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby — the top-ranked quarterback in the 2026 transfer portal — landed in Lubbock in January, and he is already garnering attention.
In a recent article by ESPN's Mark Schlabach, he puts together a way-too-early Heisman watchlist for the 2026 season, and Sorsby is one of the players he mentions.
"After totaling 3,380 yards of offense and 36 touchdowns at Cincinnati last season, Sorsby was the No. 1 quarterback in the transfer portal," Schlabach writes. "The Red Raiders invested heavily to land him, and they're counting on him to do more than former starter Behren Morton did. Sorsby is a three-year starter, and his dual-threat ability brings another dimension to the Texas Tech offense."
Sorsby’s résumé entering the 2026 season is strong. In 2025, he threw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns, while adding 580 rushing yards and nine more scores on the ground. That dual-threat productivity helped earn him second-team All-Big 12 honors and made him one of college football’s most desirable transfer quarterbacks.
After a busy weekend of visits that included stops at both Texas Tech and LSU, Sorsby chose the Red Raiders as his final destination.
While ESPN's list spans the sport and includes several returning stars, the inclusion of a Texas Tech quarterback this early in the cycle is a meaningful nod to both Sorsby’s talent and the expectations in Lubbock.
For a program still seeking its first Heisman finalist in history, Sorsby represents a new type of hope. Past Texas Tech teams often relied on high-octane passing attacks under standout talents, but never quite produced a Heisman campaign. Now, with Sorsby — a proven starter with experience at multiple Power Four programs — leading the offense, the Red Raiders have a legitimate reason to dream bigger.
Of course, mentioning his name this early doesn’t guarantee anything. The Heisman race is a grind, and quarterbacks live and die by consistency and team success. But for a fanbase hungry for national recognition, the narrative around Sorsby is shaping up to be one of the most compelling storylines in the Big 12 heading into the 2026 season.