Don’t bury Texas Tech just yet: Red Raiders should still represent CFP, even without Brendan Sorsby
Much has been made of Brendan Sorsby’s gambling saga and Texas Tech’s handling of the situation, and for good reason.
The story took a dramatic turn Monday evening when Sorsby and Tech decided to “part ways,” with the quarterback in need declaring for the NFL Supplemental Draft.
Because of this, many college football experts and fans are writing off the Red Raiders in their quest to return to the College Football Playoff, but I’m here to tell you to proceed with caution.
It would be wise not to pour dirt on Texas Tech’s chances of making a deep run in the CFP just yet, despite losing their multi-million dollar arm.
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Texas Tech Red Raiders’ Jacob Rodriguez celebrates with his wife Emma Rodriguez after the Big 12 Championship game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 6, 2025. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Sure, Sorsby was an important part of their plans this coming season, but the Red Raiders won’t be without talent in 2026.
According to college football analyst Bill Connelly, Texas Tech is ranked 12th in the country and first in the Big 12 in returning product from a team that went 12-2 and won its conference last year.
To add to that returning talent, the Red Raiders signed a top-10 transfer class, and while Sorsby helped solidify that position, there are still plenty of key pieces to complain about in Lubbock.
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Head coach Joey McGuire completely rebuilt his defensive line with four-star transfers Adam Trick (edge rusher) and Mateen Ibiroga (inside linebacker), two of the most sought-after players by every power program in the country.
Texas Tech defensive end Romello Height celebrates with his teammates after recovering from a BYU fumble in the second half of the Big 12 Conference championship football game in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 6, 2025. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)
Speaking of an influx of talent, the Red Raiders welcomed a top-20 recruiting class to campus this past round, featuring high-profile signees like forward Felix Ojo.
Ojo, a five-star prospect according to 247Sports, represents the type of athlete that has been in short supply on Texas Tech’s campus the past few years, so expect him to contribute early and often.
Of course, all that incoming talent combined with returning production is great, but the question of calling the shots still needs to be answered.
Redshirt sophomore Will Hammond is expected to take over, and although he is coming off ACL surgery, he is expected to be ready for the 2026 season.
Hammond had a great year as Behren Morton’s backup, throwing for nearly 700 yards and seven touchdowns while appearing in five games before his injury.
A former four-star from the past few cycles, Hammond has enough pedigree and experience to give Texas Tech some comfort after losing Sorsby.
I also don’t see the Big 12 being much of a challenge for the Red Raiders in 2026, either.
Texas Tech ran the league last season, winning the title and earning itself an automatic bid to the CFP in 2025.
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Their one competition will be BYU, a team they aren’t even scheduled to play in the regular season, and their one upset from last year, Arizona State, they have to travel to Lubbock this fall.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Head Coach Joey McGuire gestures as he leaves the field after a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, on Oct. 25, 2025. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Any way you slice it, the Red Raiders are set for another conference championship and CFP run in 2026, even without Brendan Sorsby.
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What they do once they get to the big dance remains to be seen, but I won’t count these guys out just yet.
The talent level is only rising in west Texas, so if it doesn’t happen this year, Texas Tech will likely reload in 2027 and beyond.
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The loss of Sorsby, as bad as it was from a PR point of view, is not the death knell of the program.
The Red Raider isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
