Can Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby return the Red Raiders to national prominence in 2026?
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech Red Raiders football program had its best season in school history in 2025, but notable contributors - like quarterback Behren Morton, defensive stars Jacob Rodriguez and David Bailey, and leading receivers Caleb Douglas and Reggie Virgil - are all moving on to the NFL.
Just like in the spring of 2025, Texas Tech and head coach Joey McGuire have reloaded in 2026 with one of the nation's best transfer portal classes.
Leading that class is former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The dual-threat junior was ranked as ESPN's No. 1 transfer portal prospect upon signing, so while he upgrades within the Big 12 by joining the conference champions, his addition brings with it loads of pressure for the Red Raiders to put together a repeat.
Beyond just conference competition, the Red Raiders are expected to return to national prominence after last year's College Football Playoff appearance. It will be up to Sorsby to lead the charge.
How much respect is he gaining this offseason? It's a pretty good amount, with ESPN ranking him just inside the top 10 of quarterbacks entering this college football season.
Sorsby ranks No. 9 on the preseason list behind Notre Dame's CJ Carr, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, Texas' Arch Manning, USC's Jayden Maiava, Oregon's Dante Moore, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker and Georgia's Gunner Stockton.
Of the gunslingers ranking ahead of Sorsby, just one is a transfer going into a new team (North Texas transfer Mestemaker).
"After using the transfer portal to turn a poor defense into an elite one, Tech ran aground into the CFP, in part because of quarterback play. Naturally, then, Joey Maguire went out and grabbed just about the most proven QB in the portal," wrote analyst Bill Connelly.
"Sorsby was pretty all-or-nothing in 2025 -- he averaged 9.5 yards per dropback with 20 TDs and no INTs in wins, and he averaged 6.5 yards per dropback with a 7-to-5 TDs-to-INT ratio in losses -- and his team ran out of steam late in the year. But he has shown every skill you want a QB to have at some point, he's a good runner when he needs to be, and he's an upgrade over Behren Morton."
Texas Tech is no stranger to an air-raid offense that might enhance Sorsby's numbers after those numbers from last season, but he'll also improve McGuire's ability to swing him outside the pocket, as Morton had limited mobility due to lower leg injuries in 2025.
Tech's transfer portal class is yet again ESPN's top storyline of the team moving into spring practices.
And led by Sorsby, it makes its way to Lubbock with as much pressure as any team to compete.
"Joey McGuire and his coaches are again working with the most talented roster in the conference," the publication wrote. "If McGuire can pull off the culture component, the way he did in 2025 with exceptional player leadership, the Red Raiders should be right back in the national title hunt."