Texas Tech survived the Brendan Sorsby storm. Now Joey McGuire’s veteran Red Raiders are chasing another Big 12 title and a deeper CFP run in 2026. No excuses.
FRISCO - Texas Tech football didn’t get to spend the offseason celebrating its Big 12 championship.
Instead, Joey McGuire’s program was pulled into one of college football’s ugliest controversies after quarterback Brendan Sorsby admitted to a gambling addiction and lost his eligibility for the 2026 season.
Rather than dodge the subject at Big 12 Media Days, McGuire turned the Brendan Sorsby saga into a message for the rest of the conference ... Texas Tech hasn’t cracked under the pressure. It may have become more dangerous.
“Shared adversity brings you even closer,” McGuire said while explaining how the Red Raiders navigated months of criticism, legal drama and questions surrounding the university’s support of Sorsby.
Sorsby will never play a down for Texas Tech. After withdrawing his lawsuit against the NCAA and being denied entry into the supplemental draft, the former Cincinnati quarterback began preparing for the 2027 NFL Draft.
That leaves Texas Tech facing a quarterback question—but not a roster crisis.
The Red Raiders return 13 starters, signed another top-10 transfer portal class and led the Big 12 with seven preseason all-conference selections.
Defensive lineman AJ Holmes Jr. was also named the preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
That’s not a team looking for an excuse to fall backward.
McGuire credited linebacker Ben Roberts and center Sheridan Wilson with stabilizing the locker room while the controversy raged outside the football facility.
Veterans Cam Dickey, J’Koby Williams and Howard Sampson also helped keep the program focused on defending its conference title.
The biggest concern is sophomore quarterback Will Hammond, who is recovering from an ACL injury. McGuire has expressed optimism that Hammond could return for Texas Tech’s Sept. 5 opener against Abilene Christian.
A healthy Hammond would inherit a veteran roster and a favorable Big 12 schedule that doesn’t include regular-season games against BYU or Utah.
Still, another conference championship won’t completely silence the doubters. Texas Tech’s 2025 season ended with a brutal 23-0 loss to Oregon in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. The Big 12 is also 0-2 in CFP games during the 12-team playoff era.
McGuire’s mission remains blunt ... “Win the Big 12 Conference.”
The Sorsby saga could’ve poisoned Texas Tech’s title defense before preseason camp even opened. Instead, McGuire is betting the turmoil hardened a roster already talented enough to repeat.
Now the Red Raiders must prove the chaos made them tougher, not distracted.
