Will Hammond is the guy at quarterback for Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders made it official Friday through the program’s social accounts, naming the redshirt sophomore the starter over Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis. With the competition settled, Joey McGuire is handing the offense to a quarterback who already has real game reps and a clear track record of handling pressure.
That move also comes in the wake of a months-long gambling scandal involving Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby and his eligibility for the 2026 regular season. Once Sorsby was dismissed, Texas Tech shifted to Hammond, a backup who brought upside and experience to the job.
Hammond’s résumé from last season gives the Red Raiders plenty to like. He stepped in for Behren Morton multiple times and finished with 63% completions, 680 passing yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. The Austin native was sacked only three times in five appearances and posted a 73.6 QBR, which ranked 35th.
There’s also confidence inside the program that Hammond is ready to go. Earlier this week, he addressed questions about whether he’d be prepared for Week 1 against Abilene Christian after tearing his ACL last season. “My body's prepared for week 1 at this point and we haven't even started camp yet”
He added that he has been working through the mental side as well.
Texas Tech now turns its attention to a season built around matching last year’s success and pushing past the disappointment of the Oregon loss with a deeper College Football Playoff run. The first major checkpoint arrives Sept. 18, when the Red Raiders host Houston in Lubbock for a weeknight matchup.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Just Landed Another Massive December Rematch Spot
A December showcase game that was supposed to send Duke and Michigan to the Miami Marlins stadium has been scrapped, with broadcasting rights complications and Dusty Mays departure from Michigan changing the plan. The Blue Devils quickly found a new marquee date at Madison Square Garden, a venue that has already become familiar to Texas Tech fans after last seasons thriller there.
The Red Raiders are still sorting out their own December picture, including the status of All-American JT Toppin after his season-ending ACL injury in February, but the matchup itself already carries plenty of weight. Texas Tech stunned Duke 82-81 at MSG last season, handing the Blue Devils their only loss through their first 22 games, so this return trip gives the Red Raiders another chance to measure themselves on one of the sports biggest stages. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Football Just Entered A New Stadium Era
Texas Techs football home is about to look and sound different in a way that would have been hard to imagine for most of its 78-year history. The school announced a new naming rights agreement that will turn the venue into Galaxy Stadium, a move that marks a major shift for the Red Raiders and adds another layer to the programs ongoing push to modernize its athletics business.
The partnership is reported to be worth around $75 million over 15 years, and it gives Texas Tech a fresh commercial platform as it prepares for the new season. The first game under the new name comes Sept. 5 against Abilene Christian, but the bigger significance may be what this signals for the future of the stadium and the athletic departments broader ambitions. [Read more 🡒]