In almost all preseason polls going into the 2026 college football season, the Texas Tech Red Raiders were viewed as a top-five team, with a great chance to repeat as Big 12 champions and make some noise in the College Football Playoff.
And then their quarterback left.
Earlier this week, Cincinnati Bearcats transfer Brendan Sorsby announced that he would be applying for a spot in the NFL supplemental draft following the fallout that came from his sports gambling scandal. One of the major reasons for excitement and high expectations for the Red Raiders in 2026 had to do with the QB position and Sorsby’s ability to stabilize it by filling in for Berhan Morton.
But despite Sorsby’s departure, confidence still remains.
The Red Raiders are uniquely suited to handle something like this, now turning to veteran Will Hammond to step in as the new starter. The junior has 12 starts in his career, including eight from last season, where he threw for 680 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions. Though he suffered a torn ACL last season, which he is still recovering from, there is some comfort in his outlook at Texas Tech, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
“Sources indicate that sophomore Will Hammond continues to progress well in his recovery from a torn ACL and believe he’ll be available for Tech’s Big 12 opener against Houston in Week 3,” Zenitz writes.
Even with Hammond continuing to work his way back, there is reportedly a feeling in Lubbock that backup quarterback Kirk Francis, a transfer from Tulane, is well-suited to shoulder the load while needed.
“Until Hammond returns, there’s confidence in the capabilities of Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis,” Zenitz writes. “Francis is a veteran who a Texas Tech source described as “the best third-string quarterback in the country.”
In three years at Tulsa, Francis threw for 3,045 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
While the expectations for Texas Tech this year with Sorsby at the helm were a deep run in the playoff, and potentially a championship, all is not lost without him on the roster. A ton of talent remains, and with a combo of Hammond and Francis leading the way, confidence remains in Lubbock.
This article originally appeared on Red Raiders Wire: Texas Tech brings confidence to QB room despite Sorsby departure
Reporting by Zachary Neel, Red Raiders Wire / Red Raiders Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zachary Neel, Red Raiders Wire | USA TODAY Network
