These 4 things must happen for Texas Tech to return to College Football Playoff

Here are four things that need to happen for Texas Tech to make the College Football Playoff. 

Quarterback Will Hammond must stay healthy and produce

Texas Tech paid Brendan Sorsby $6 million in NIL, believing it would have one of the nation’s best returning quarterbacks. 

Instead, his past gambling on college games ultimately led to him leaving the program, but the Red Raiders were fortunate to have an accomplished alternative in the wings. 

Last season, redshirt freshman Will Hammond passed for 680 yards and seven touchdowns – and rushed 43 times for 299 yards and five touchdowns – before suffering an ACL tear Oct. 25 against Oklahoma State. 

Tech hoped Hammond would be back by this season’s Big 12 opener, but he was medically cleared for full practices when training camp began Aug. 4. It remains to be seen whether, coming off the injury, Hammond can return to his dual-threat ways of last season. 

“I’ll still be able to run the ball when needed, but I don’t think that’s going to be as much of a focus,” he said. “When you want to go out there and play 16 games, you don’t want to be running your quarterback around too much.” 

Behind Hammond on the depth chart are redshirt freshman Lloyd Jones III and junior transfer Kirk Francis. 

The defense must again be dominant

The Red Raiders last season allowed 11.8 points per game and led the nation with 32 takeaways.  

Tech also posted the largest year-over-year improvement in average points allowed (-23.0) and total yards allowed per game (-203.2) by any FBS program since 2000.  

Second-year defensive coordinator Shiel Wood will be hard-pressed to replicate those results. But with Ben Roberts leading five returning defensive starters and 10 portal transfers, Wood has reason for optimism. 

“I do think there’s probably several positions where we can roll (backup) guys in and not have a drop-off and have guys that can play to a really high level,” Wood said. “I think there was probably some positions last year where it might have been a little bit of a drop-off.” 

Senior safety Brenden Jordan was one of eight defensive players who started all 14 games last season. 

“I feel like we were all tied on the string last year, from the front end to the back,” Jordan said. “We all knew what we were doing; we communicated very well. This year it’s gonna be the same thing. We have so many players who are trying to leave their stamp after last year.” 

2026 TEXAS TECH SCHEDULE

Sept. 5: vs. Abilene Christian, 6 p.m. (FS1)
Sept. 12: at Oregon State, 6:30 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 18: vs. Houston, 7 p.m. (Fox)
Sept. 26: vs. Sam Houston, time and TV TBD
Oct. 3: at Colorado, time and TV TBD
Oct. 17: vs. Arizona State, time and TV TBD
Oct. 24: at Cincinnati, time and TV TBD
Oct. 31: vs. Arizona, time and TV TBD
Nov. 7: vs. West Virginia, time and TV TBD
Nov. 14: at Oklahoma State, time and TV TBD
Nov. 21: at Baylor, time and TV TBD
Nov. 26: vs. TCU, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Stars need to be stars

There’s been much written about Tech’s recruiting and transfer portal prowess, but results don’t always meet expectations. 

A case in point is junior wide receiver Micah Hudson, a five-star recruit out of Lake Belton.  

Ask pretty much anyone in the Tech program and they’ll tell you the 6-foot, 205-pound Hudson is poised for a breakout season. Last season, he caught just eight passes for 112 yards. Both of his touchdown receptions, though, came in the regular-season finale at West Virginia.   

“He’s grown so much,” Hammond said. “I think the coolest thing for me to watch is the way that he leads that room, his voice in that room, bringing along young freshmen. 

“I’m just proud of Micah and the work he’s put in. It’s going to pay off for him this year. I’m really excited to watch.” 

16 portal transfers must smoothly blend in

In Joey McGuire’s first season as Tech’s coach, the Red Raiders’ roster had 94 players from Texas high schools and 26 non-Texans. In 2023, the numbers were 95 and 25. In 2024, it was 99 and 24. 

Last season, it was 87 and 22. This season’s roster has 72 players from Texas high schools and 37 from out of state. Such is the nature of the transfer portal and Texas Tech becoming more of a national draw for players. 

“When I first got here it was 80-85% kids from Texas,” said junior offensive lineman Jacob Ponton of Dripping Springs. “Now it’s changed up a little. I mean, one of our D-linemen (Bryce Butler) is from (Toronto) Canada. 

“It’s something you have to put effort into, to make the team close. You have to be intentional about it, hang out outside of the facility.” 

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This article originally published at These 4 things must happen for Texas Tech to return to College Football Playoff.