As we burn through the sweltering dog days of August, football-rabid fans are counting down to September 5, when the Texas Tech football team returns to action. Of course, the 2026 version of the Red Raiders face a unique challenge as they are the first Tech team in half a century with the opportunity to claim a second straight outright conference title.
Many around the country are curious, if not outright skeptical, about Tech's chances of being as dominant this fall as head coach Joey McGuire's program was a year ago. The departures of defensive stars like Jacob Rodriguez, David Bailey, Romello Height, and Lee Hunter, as well as the uncertainty at the quarterback position, have more than a few pundits expecting Tech to regress one year after making an appearance in the College Football Playoff.
On the other hand, those with a deeper understanding of where McGuire's program is headed are bullish on what 2026 could hold in store. In fact, this year's team could be even better than the 2025 team and contend for the National Championship.
As the Red Raiders grind through fall camp and the rest of us slog through the August sports wasteland, visions of touchdowns are dancing in our heads as we look forward to another potentially magical season. In fact, it isn't crazy to believe that what we witnessed last season could be only a prelude to an even more memorable run in 2026. Let's take a look at why this year's team could be even better than the 2025 team that captured the Big 12 title.
Texas Tech has a QB with a higher ceiling
Though this offseason's unbelievable Brendan Sorsby saga has left people around the nation questioning Texas Tech's QB situation, most Red Raiders know just how much potential starting QB Will Hammond possesses. If he comes anywhere close to maximizing his talent, it will take Tech to a new level.
Because last season's QB, Behren Morton, had to play with a hairline fracture in his leg, he was limited from game one of 2025 until the end of the season. As a result, Texas Tech received steady but unspectacular QB play as Morton was once again unable to showcase his full abilities due to injury.
Now, Hammond takes over, and if he is truly able to put last season's torn knee ligament behind him, he could be the type of difference-maker that Tech has lacked at QB since Patrick Mahomes II was running the show a decade ago. Hammond has more natural talent than Morton and is a better athlete because of his ability to pull the ball down and pick up huge yards with his legs. That could give Tech's offense a new dimension that was missing last year with a hobbled Morton at QB.
Of course, Hammond must be close to full health for that to happen. Additionally, he doesn't have the experience that Morton brought into the 2025 season as a multi-year starter. Still, Hammond has a higher ceiling than Morton did, and if he unlocks his full potential, the 2026 offense will be a juggernaut.
The 2026 Texas Tech offensive line should be a dominant unit
Last season, Tech's offensive line was above average but far from dominant. That was apparent in the 23-0 Orange Bowl loss to Oregon, as the Ducks' defensive line manhandled Tech's offensive front.
The 2026 Texas Tech offensive line shouldn't be pushed around by anyone. That's because it will be a bigger and more experienced unit.
Replacing both starting guards, Tech has beefed up the interior of its line. New starting left guard Hunter Zambrano returns from a missed year due to injury and will remind everyone why he was one of the nation's top OL transfers in the 2025 offseason. Meanwhile, Louisville transfer Jordan Church will fill the right guard spot, having made 15 career starts at guard. What's more, Church weighs almost 30 pounds more than the man he's replacing, Davion Carter.
Add that duo to Tech's three returning starters, a rededicated left tackle Howard Sampson, a right tackle Jacob Ponton who now has a year of starting experience under his belt following an honorable-mention All-Big 12 campaign last fall, and one of the nation's best centers in Sheridan Wilson, and Tech could have the makings of one of the best offensive lines that the program has fielded in two decades.
Texas Tech has more depth on defense
Finally, the depth of the Texas Tech defense could carry that side of the ball to another dominant season. While the 2025 defense was star-studded, the strength of this year's group will be its numbers.
For instance, at defensive tackle, Tech will have as many as five players on the roster who would have started on almost any Red Raider defense this century. While AJ Holmes and Wake Forest transfer Mateen Ibirogba will give Tech one of the best starting tandems in the nation, backups like Julien Laventure, Bryce Butler, and Jayden Cofield all have more talent than most starting DTs that Tech has relied on over the years.
At edge rusher, Tech will bring a deep group of high-motor players after the QB. Starters Adam Trick and Trey White will be backed up by former 5-star signee and true freshman LaDamion Guyton, Oregon State transfer Jojo Johnson, and Ansel Nedroe, all of whom are freakish athletes capable of getting to the QB.
Though 2025 saw some superstar defenders graduate, the current roster has been restocked with greater numbers of potential contributors. Tech is loaded like never before with talent well beyond just the two-deep and that could pay massive dividends in 2026.
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