Though the Texas Tech football team is 3-0 to start the season and coming off a critically important 28-26 win over Houston to open Big 12 play, it still feels as if there is another gear this team has yet to kick into. That's especially true of the offense, which has not put up more than 35 points in a game.
The good news is that starting quarterback Will Hammond took a massive step forward in game three, looking more like the player we saw before last season's knee injury. If his arrow is indeed pointed up, then the offense as a whole could be ready to take a big jump over the next two weeks.
Hammond was excellent against Houston, both statistically and subjectively. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown.
While those numbers aren't going to jump off the page, the context in which they are framed is what tells the story. Of course, Hammond saw his receivers drop three critical passes that hit them right in the hands. Tight end Terrance Carter Jr. and wide receivers Micah Hudson and Coy Eakin all let Hammond down at important moments by failing to complete receptions that would have kept drives alive, or in Carter's case, might have even resulted in a long touchdown.
Had those three catches been made, Hammond would likely have surpassed 300 yards through the air for the first time this year. What's more, he could have had another TD pass on his ledger.
Even the lone interception that Hammond threw could be attributed to a mistake Hudson made. At the end of the first half, Hammond threw a go route Hudson's way, and instead of fighting for the ball and making a play for his QB, Hudson fell victim to the turf monster and wound up flat on his back while the defensive back made a one-handed interception.
The mistakes from his receivers didn't keep Hammond from having one of his best days as a starter, though. He pushed the ball deep and averaged 9.5 yards per attempt. That was the highest yards per attempt that he has had as a starting QB at the college level.
What's more, his 257-yard total through the air was the most he's had in a Big 12 game and the second most he's amassed in his career behind only the 280 yards he threw for against Arkansas in the 2024 Liberty Bowl.
All that came in a game where he was inexplicably kept off the field for the first snap for his team as Tech tried to get too cute and run a package for backup QB Tommy Castellanos, who rewarded that decision by throwing an ill-advised interception on his only pass attempt of the night. Some quarterbacks would have pouted and sulked in that situation; however, Hammond seemed to let it motivate him. That's a sign that he's got the competitive fire that you want from the leader of your offense.
Hammond is rounding into form at the right time for Texas Tech
It is also clear that Hammond is starting to move past the mental hurdles associated with his knee injury. In each game he's played this year, he's been more assertive as he learns to trust his body.
For instance, he ran the ball five times for 30 yards in game three. He also displayed excellent mobility when maneuvering in the pocket or when forced to throw on the move.
Remember, when the offseason began, game three was the target date for Hammond to return to the field. Of course, that timeline was ramped up after the Brendan Sorsby saga unfolded. Still, he's in the early stages of working his way back to 100% both physically and mentally.
Thankfully, he had two games to play before the Houston contest. If he had been thrown into the fire for the first time this season in week three, he likely would not have played as well as he did, and Tech would not have survived one of its biggest tests of the regular season.
Now, Hammond has three weeks to hone his game before the real Big 12 gauntlet arrives. Fortunately, the next two games should provide opportunities for the offense to have big days.
Sam Houston, this week's opponent, is just 1-2 on the year and has yet to face a Power-4 conference foe. Meanwhile, week five's opponent, Colorado, just gave up 41 points to Northwestern in an ugly 34-point defeat. Then, an open week arrives to signal the mid-point of the season.
After that, Tech will begin the grueling portion of Big 12 play with seven consecutive conference games to wrap up the regular season. Thus, it is imperative that this offense begins to fire on all cylinders over the next two weeks.
That's because this year's defense has proven that it isn't going to be a top-5 unit nationally like the 2025 defense was. Therefore, Tech may have to win a shootout or two if the Big 12 Championship Game is going to be game No. 13 this year.
A healthy and confident Hammond is the key to unlocking this offense's true potential. Fortunately, last week he showed that he is on the cusp of hitting his stride in 2026. When that happens, this Texas Tech team will once again be tough for anyone in the Big 12 to handle.
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