Texas Tech’s quarterback situation has taken enough twists over the last few months to make your head spin. And the latest development might be the wildest one yet.
Will Hammond, the backup who tore his ACL in late October, could actually be under center when the Red Raiders open their season against Abilene Christian on September 5. That’s according to head coach Joey McGuire, who told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that Hammond is very much in the conversation for Week 1.
“I think he could be, I really do,” McGuire said.
That’s not what anyone expected back in the fall. Hammond went down in the second half of a 42-0 blowout win over Oklahoma State on October 25. The original timeline suggested he wouldn’t be ready for the start of the 2026 season. But ACL recoveries aren’t always clean, linear paths, and apparently Hammond’s has gone better than projected.
How we got here
Let’s rewind a little. Texas Tech needed a new starter after Behren Morton left for the NFL. So the staff went out and got Brendan Sorsby, a transfer with starting experience who was supposed to be the guy. Then he was ruled ineligible for gambling. Suddenly the depth chart was a question mark again.
That’s where Hammond comes in. He’s a redshirt sophomore who originally picked Texas Tech over Auburn, Oregon, Penn State and Texas A&M. That recruiting pedigree matters. He backed up Morton in 2024, appearing in four games and starting the bowl game against Arkansas after Morton got hurt. Last season he played in eight games with two starts.
His numbers so far: 104 completions on 166 attempts for 1,151 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s also run for seven scores. Not flashy, but solid. And for a guy coming off a major knee injury, even getting back on the field this early would be notable.
What’s at stake
The early schedule is manageable. Abilene Christian at home, then a road trip to Oregon State on September 12. Conference play opens against Houston on September 18. If Hammond is healthy and effective, those are winnable games.
But here’s the thing nobody’s saying out loud: this was supposed to be a top-ten team with Sorsby. Maybe even a College Football Playoff contender. Without him, and with a quarterback who’s thrown for just over a thousand yards in two seasons, the margin for error shrinks fast. Not dramatically — but noticeably.
McGuire seems confident. And maybe that confidence is warranted. But ACL recoveries are unpredictable, and throwing a quarterback into live action before he’s fully ready can backfire. Texas Tech doesn’t have a lot of room to gamble right now.
They’ll need Hammond to be more than just healthy. They’ll need him to be sharp.
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