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Oct 18, 2026 5:05 PM
Updated Oct 18, 2026 10:41 PM
No. 10 Texas Tech stomped out its slow starts against Arizona State, as the Red Raiders took a 43-10 lead into halftime before going on to win 53-25 over the Sun Devils. With the first half figured out, Texas Tech can live up to its title as one of the fiercest foes across the nation.
LUBBOCK -- No. 10 Texas Tech lived up to the number next to its name for the first time this season, as the Red Raiders flipped a switch in an absolute beatdown of Arizona State 53-25.
Entering Saturday's game, Texas Tech had yet to lead an opponent by more than two scores at halftime in any of its previous five matchups, which included Abilene Christian and Sam Houston State.
In a total reversal, the Red Raiders were out in front of the Sun Devils 43-10 before hitting the locker room at Galaxy Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback Will Hammond looked like a seasoned veteran commanding his fleet of Red Raiders through the air and by ground.
He finished with 232 yards on 18-of-26 passing and one touchdown, while racking up 25 yards and a touchdown on six carries.
It came as a moment of sweet revenge for Hammond after the Sun Devils handed him a loss as the starter a year ago.
Outside of Hammond, running back J'Koby Williams lended his talents in the absence of Cameron Dickey, with a career-high 165 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Wide receiver Kenny Johnson also tallied a career-high 120 yards and has quietly emerged as the top target for Hammond in his first season in Lubbock.
It was not just the offense working out its jitters, the defense for the Red Raiders opened the game with a blow square on the chin of the Sun Devils.
Following a fumble by Williams at the two-yard line of Arizona State on the opening drive, linebacker Ben Roberts got the touchdown that Texas Tech narrowly missed out with a pick-six off Cutter Boley.
Add on six sack and nine tackles-for-loss and the defense for Texas Tech had the recipe to stop the Sun Devils all afternoon long.
Head coach Joey McGuire kept addressing self-inflicted wounds and sluggish starts that were hampering their full potential, but even with the knowledge of the problems, it never seemed to turn into changes.
However, it appears the bye week was the missing piece all along for a Texas Tech team desperately searching for an identity to begin the season.
The Red Raiders appear to have undergone a completion transformation into the Big 12 contending squad that many envisioned heading into the year.
Its stock will continue to rise after the win and chaos around the rest of the sport, as Texas Tech aims to keep on impressing in a road trip to an opponent that drew ire in the offseason.
Cincinnati hosts the Red Raiders at Nippert Stadium next Saturday in a contest that could quickly get as lopsided as this latest showing against the Sun Devils, fueled even moreso by the program's alleged connection to the Brendan Sorsby situation.
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