CBS Sports ranks Texas Tech’s running backs No. 2 nationally, with Cameron Dickey, J’Koby Williams and Quinten Joyner powering a loaded attack.
Texas Tech football won’t need to hide what it wants to do in 2026. The Red Raiders can line up, hand the ball to one of three dangerous running backs and dare the Big 12 to stop them.
CBS Sports ranked Texas Tech’s running back room No. 2 in the country, placing Cameron Dickey, J’Koby Williams and Quinten Joyner among the most complete backfield groups in college football.
That’s not preseason fluff because the production is already there.
Dickey became one of the engines behind Texas Tech’s explosive offense last season, rushing for more than 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He also added two receiving scores, proving he’s more than a one-dimensional runner.
What makes Dickey dangerous isn’t simply his power or speed.
He has the patience to let blocks develop, then hits the crease with enough acceleration to erase pursuit angles.
His 30 explosive runs showed how quickly a routine handoff can become a defensive disaster.
Williams gives the Red Raiders a different kind of headache.
He’s a home-run threat who can flip a game whenever he finds daylight.
Dickey and Williams combined for 20 rushing touchdowns last season while both averaging more than five yards per carry, giving Texas Tech a proven one-two punch that already knows how to punish Big 12 defenses.
Then there’s Joyner.
In many backfields, Joyner would be the unquestioned starter. At Texas Tech, he’s another weapon waiting for his opportunity.
He showed starting ability before an injury disrupted his season, and his return gives the Red Raiders valuable insurance behind their two established stars.
That depth is exactly why CBS Sports ranked the group so highly.
Plenty of teams have one elite running back. Texas Tech has three players capable of carrying a serious workload without forcing the offense to dramatically change its identity.
If one gets injured, struggles or simply needs rest, the drop-off could be minimal.
That’s a luxury in a sport where one bad week can expose a supposedly deep position room.
Texas Tech enters 2026 with championship expectations, and the quarterback situation will continue to dominate headlines.
But the Red Raiders’ clearest offensive advantage may be sitting right behind him.
Defenses know what’s coming. Stopping Dickey, Williams and Joyner is the part that won’t be so simple.
Follow Timm Hamm on X at @IndyCarTim.
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