Don’t bury Texas Tech just yet: Red Raiders should still be CFP contenders, even without Brendan Sorsby
Much has been made of the Brendan Sorsby 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 agreed to “mutually part ways” and the embattled quarterback declared for the NFL Supplemental Draft.
So, many college football pundits and fans are berating the Red Raiders in their quest to get back to the College Football Playoff, but I’m here to tell you to proceed with caution.
Despite losing their multimillion-dollar arm, it would be prudent not to sully Texas Tech’s chances of making deep progress in the CFP yet.
12 MAJOR LAWSUITS AGAINST TEXAS TECH SEEKING COURT APPROVAL FOR SANCTION SCHOOL VIA BRENDAN SORSBY
Jacob Rodriguez of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates with his wife, Emma Rodriguez, after the Big 12 Championship game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Of course, Sorsby was an integral part of their plans this season, but the Red Raiders won’t be completely starved of talent in 2026.
According to college football analyst Bill Connelly, Texas Tech ranks 12th in the country and first in the Big 12 in returning production from a team that went 12-2 in its conference last year.
The Red Raiders signed a top-10 transfer portal class to bolster this returning talent, and while Sorsby helped elevate that ranking, there are still plenty of key pieces to be heard in Lubbock.
WHICH TEAMS HAVE THE MOST VALUABLE FOOTBALL SQUADS IN THE COLLEGES GOING TO THE 2026 SEASON?
Head coach Joey McGuire has completely reloaded the defensive line with four-star transfers Adam Trick (edge rusher) and Mateen Ibiroga (inside defensive line), two players highly sought after by every power program in the country.
Texas Tech linebacker Romello Height celebrates with teammates after recovering a BYU fumble during the second half of the Big 12 Conference championship football game on Dec. 6, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)
Speaking of an influx of talent, the Red Raiders are welcoming a top-20 recruiting class to campus this past cycle, which includes high-profile signees like Felix Ojo on offense.
Ojo, a five-star according to 247Sports, has represented a rare type of athlete on the Texas Tech campus over the last few years, so expect him to contribute early and often.
Of course, all this incoming talent and returning production is a great thing, but the signal caller question still needs to be answered.
Redshirt sophomore Will Hammond is expected to take the reins, and although he will be coming off ACL surgery, the expectation is that he will be ready for the 2026 season.
Hammond had a great year as Behren Morton’s backup; He threw for nearly 700 yards and seven touchdowns while appearing in five games before being injured.
A former four-star recruit a few semesters ago, Hammond has the pedigree and enough experience to give Texas Tech some relief after losing Sorsby.
I also don’t think the Big 12 will be too challenging for the Red Raiders in 2026 either.
Texas Tech had a solid performance in the league last season, winning the title and securing an automatic bid to the CFP in 2025.
TEXAS TECH DOMINATES BYU TO WIN FIRST BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
Their only opponent will be BYU, a team they weren’t even scheduled to play in the regular season, and Arizona State, their only blemish from last year, will have to travel to Lubbock this fall.
Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire gestures as he leaves the field after the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 25, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Whichever way you look at it, the Red Raiders are poised for another conference championship and CFP run in 2026, with or without Brendan Sorsby.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. GET THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Time will tell what they’ll do once they reach the big dance, but I can’t count these guys out just yet.
The talent level is only growing in West Texas, so if it doesn’t happen this year, Texas Tech will likely reload for 2027 and beyond.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Sorsby’s loss, however ugly it may be from a public relations standpoint, is not a death knell for this program.
The Red Raiders aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
