Unless your team is winning each game by double figures, every week of the college football season brings new complaints from the fan base. Texas Tech fans certainly have opinions about the Red Raiders' unimpressive 2-0 start to the season, and one thing they want to see more of is the vertical passing game, which has been rather nonexistent so far.
Fortunately, head coach Joey McGuire agrees with that sentiment. This week, in his weekly press conference, what he said was music to fans' ears.
"We have to call those plays that it's like, 'Look, we are taking a vertical shot to stress the defense,'", he said. "Y'all saw that [Oregon State] definitely did that against us...and sometimes it doesn't matter if it's complete or not. We want to complete them, but you gotta pressure the secondary. And so that's one thing that we have to do."
In his remarks, McGuire pointed to the game-winning touchdown in the 4th quarter as an example of what can happen when his offense stretches the field. On the score, QB Will Hammond trusted receiver Coy Eakin to make a play on a 50/50 ball, and Eakin came down with the score from 32 yards out to put his team up 28-24.
Coy Eakin! Texas Tech takes the lead! pic.twitter.com/GFRYv5yJas
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 13, 2026
What's more, Tech got another positive result on the only other deep shot Hammond took against the Beavers. In the first half, he lofted a high, deep pass down the sideline to Kenny Johnson, who was interfered with on the play, giving the Red Raiders a free 15 yards.
However, plays like that have been few and far between this season for Tech. If there have been big passing plays, they have usually been the result of yards after the catch racked up by the receiver.
Some of that is on the play calling, and some of that is on Hammond to start to take more shots downfield when opportunities arise.
"That has to happen," McGuire said. "There's a play in the game that we run a wheel route to Cam Dickey, and he's not totally open, but he's not covered either, and you gotta make that throw. Like, you can't come off of that. Everything can't be clean and perfect every time. You've got to allow your playmakers [to make plays]."
Certainly, Hammond has been cautious thus far in his first season as Tech's starting QB. Perhaps that's because the one time he took a risk, it ended up in an ill-advised throw that was picked off against Abilene Christian.
However, the running attack that Tech expected to be dominant has just been pedestrian at best. Therefore, Tech will need more dynamic moments from Hammond. He's averaging 8.3 yards per attempt this year, which is mediocre. It would be preferable to see that number climb past 9.0 per attempt as a sign that he's starting to stretch the field.
Texas Tech needs a better scheme from Mack Leftwich as well
While Hammond bears some responsibility for the lack of a consistent vertical attack, most fans put the blame for that on offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich. This week, he was asked about the vertical passing game, but unlike McGuire, he wasn't as definitive with his remarks.
"We'll obviously evaluate every game as it goes," he said, "...So that's a week-to-week thing based on where we think the matchups are, where we think, how the defense is attacking us, and all that goes into putting together a plan and trying to find an edge on offense. So we'll continually evaluate where we're at, what our strengths are, how we can get better."
Last season, Tech was 38th nationally in yards per attempt at 7.8. For reference, Sacramento State led the nation at 11.8.
So far in 2026, Tech is averaging just 7.0 yards per attempt. That's good for just 70th in the country. Some of that is due to breaking in a new QB who is a first-time starter. Some of that is due to the fact that said starter missed most of the offseason recovering from a major knee injury, meaning he got no spring practice reps with his new receivers.
However, Leftwich also bears a bulk of the responsibility. It feels as if he might be a bit surprised that his rushing attack has been far from dominant this year, and it has taken him longer than fans would like to adjust to that reality.
Now, though, he is going up against a Houston defense that has given up just 20 total yards on the ground in two games this year. Therefore, the Tech passing attack had better be on point come Friday night.
What's more, the passing game must be more diverse. Tech needs fewer screens and hitches and more deep shots. No one is asking the Red Raiders to play like they are in a video game, but there is obviously a need to stress defenses deep, which will also help the ground game.
McGuire knows that to be true. Fans know it to be true as well. Now, it is up to Hammond and Leftwich to make that a reality this week in what could be the biggest game of the regular season.
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