Texas Tech lost Brendan Sorsby, but a loaded offense and Big 12-friendly schedule still give the Red Raiders a real path back to the College Football Playoff.
Texas Tech football suffered the kind of offseason quarterback disaster that can sink a season before it begins. Somehow, the Red Raiders still look dangerous enough to win the Big 12.
Brendan Sorsby was supposed to be the centerpiece of Texas Tech’s 2026 College Football Playoff push.
The Cincinnati transfer arrived in Lubbock after throwing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and only five interceptions while adding 580 rushing yards and nine scores.
With that production inside a loaded offense, legitimate Heisman Trophy buzz wasn’t unreasonable.
Then Sorsby’s gambling violations detonated the plan.
His departure caused one Associated Press Top 25 voter to drop Texas Tech roughly 10 places, landing the Red Raiders at No. 19 in a preseason countdown.
That’s understandable. Losing a potential star quarterback is more than an inconvenience; it changes the ceiling of the entire operation.
But Texas Tech isn’t dead. Not even close.
Will Hammond now inherits an offense that can protect him with one of the nastiest backfields in the conference.
Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams combined for 1,992 rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns last season, giving the Red Raiders the ability to control games without asking their quarterback to become Superman immediately.
Three starting offensive linemen return, along with an experienced tight end. That continuity should allow Texas Tech to lean on the run, manufacture manageable third downs and gradually expand Hammond’s responsibilities.
The schedule also offers a legitimate opening.
Texas Tech enters the season as a Big 12 favorite and avoids BYU, widely viewed as one of the league’s strongest challengers. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it removes one major obstacle from a conference race that may not feature an unbeatable team.
The Sept. 18 matchup against Houston could become the first real pressure test. Win convincingly, and the conversation shifts from what Texas Tech lost to what it still has. Struggle, and every doubt created by Sorsby’s exit comes roaring back.
This team will be fascinating because the range of outcomes is enormous.
Texas Tech could crumble under the weight of its quarterback upheaval, or Hammond could steady the offense while the veteran roster carries the Red Raiders back to the playoff.
Sorsby’s exit stole the offseason headlines. Now Texas Tech gets to decide whether it steals the Big 12 anyway.
