Urban Meyer remains uncertain about the Texas Tech Red Raiders’ prospects for the 2026 college football season. On one side, the status of Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby—who is under investigation for gambling activities in Ohio and Indiana over recent years—raises doubts about Texas Tech’s status as a College Football Playoff lock and Big 12 favorite.
On the other side, if backup quarterback Will Hammond can recover from a torn ACL he suffered last October in time for conference play, Meyer believes the Red Raiders could still be a formidable force in the Big 12.
“Think about this. You just invested $5 million. Texas Tech is no longer the Texas Tech of old; they have expectations of being in the playoffs. You lose that kid, and the backup’s got a bad knee—your chance of going to the playoffs is dropping,” Meyer said on the “Triple Option” podcast.
“I thought this might be a major hit because that quarterback could get going by then, because they have really good players. They’ve invested a lot of money in that roster. I think they’re going to be favored still in all those games. You just mentioned five games. I think they’ll be favored in all five.”
**When Is Will Hammond Expected to Return?**
Hammond may be on an accelerated recovery timeline, especially as Sorsby faces a potential lifetime ban for allegedly betting on his own team while with the Indiana Hoosiers, tainting the integrity of the game.
While originally slated to return within a year, Hammond could be rushed back by Week 3, when Texas Tech opens conference play at home against the Houston Cougars on a Friday night. The Red Raiders host FCS Abilene Christian in Week 1 before traveling to Corvallis to face Oregon State in Week 2.
Texas Tech has invested heavily to win football games and won’t rely on any of the three redshirt freshmen on the roster if Hammond can’t return. Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis has posted over 3,000 passing yards and 18 touchdown passes in his collegiate career, albeit with 13 interceptions. He would be the go‑to option if Hammond remains sidelined in 2026 and Sorsby is banned.
