Someone was bound to seize the power vacuum in the Big 12 left behind by Oklahoma and Texas, powerhouses who left the conference in 2024. 

In an age of college athletics where money is king, it’s no surprise booster Cody Campbell and the oil fields of West Texas have provided Texas Tech with the ammo it needed to become the newest kings of the Big 12.

Backed by a roster that reportedly cost nearly $30 million, the Red Raiders won their first Big 12 title in 2025, doing so in dominant fashion with a 34-10 win over BYU that also cemented Texas Tech’s spot in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoffs.

But that first playoff appearance was short lived as Oregon shut out Joey McGuire’s team 23-0 in the Orange Bowl.

Now, the Red Raiders doubled down on their attempt to remain the top dog in the Big 12 and compete among the top programs in the Big Ten and SEC.

They’ll open the month of October against Deion Sanders and Colorado in the program’s first trip to Boulder since 2010.

Here’s everything you need to know about TTU:

Offseason storylines

Not only has Texas Tech become the top spender in the Big 12, the Red Raiders have also stolen Coach Prime’s mantle as the No. 1 headline target.

No one else in college football has had a few months comparable to TTU’s.

First, the Red Raiders dominated the transfer portal window for a second straight year, garnering the No. 2 portal class in the country, per On3 rankings. They did well to replace the star-studded defensive line that fueled last season’s 12-2 record. But the headliner among the newcomers was Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who was one of the top quarterbacks available after throwing for over 5,600 yards and 45 touchdowns the last two seasons as the starter for the Bearcats.

Sorsby was seen as the missing piece for Tech after Behren Morton’s underwhelming play often limited the ceiling of last year’s squad.

However, news broke in April that Sorsby was the subject of an NCAA investigation for gambling, including placing bets on his own Indiana team when he was a member of the Hoosiers in 2022-23. Sorsby sought treatment for a gambling addiction and his lawyers have argued it is a medical condition that should allow him to be reinstated after he was deemed ineligible.

Sorsby and TTU are hoping for an injunction from a Texas district court that would allow him to play in 2026. If he is not eligible to play this fall, Sorsby will likely enter the NFL supplemental draft later this month and leave Texas Tech without a clear answer at quarterback after a long saga with the player it reportedly hired for $5 million to fill the biggest hole on the roster.

On offense

Whether Sorsby leads the Texas Tech offense will change the look of coordinator Mack Leftwich’s offense. But it won’t dictate how dangerous it is.

The Red Raiders were hoping to get sophomore quarterback Will Hammond healthy after a torn ACL ended his season last October. Hammond looked like the future starter after playing well in place of Morton at times, specifically in a 34-10 road win at Utah in late September.

McGuire said he expects Hammond to be fully cleared in August with a timeline to return to game action in time for Big 12 play, meaning he should be the starter when Texas Tech arrives at Folsom Field.

Hammond completed 63% of his passes for 680 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 299 rushing yards and five scores on the ground, across eight appearances in 2025. He should combine with running back Cameron Dickey to form one of the best rushing attacks in the conference.

Out wide, former five-star recruit Micah Hudson appears set for a breakout season, while slot receiver Coy Eakin returns after finishing third on the team in receiving yards with 637 and tied for second in touchdowns with six.

Up front, multiple all-Big 12 offensive linemen will anchor a unit that should be one of the best in the Big 12, regardless of who’s under center. 

On defense

The reason Texas Tech became the best team in the Big 12 is because of its defense.

The Red Raiders hit on multiple, difference-making defensive linemen out of the transfer portal, most notably recent No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft David Bailey. Meanwhile, veteran linebacker Jacob Rodriguez took another step forward as the leader of the unit as a whole.

TTU returns coordinator Sheil Wood and has a solid foundation of returners to build around, notably linebacker Ben Roberts and all-conference honorees in defensive lineman A.J. Holmes Jr. and cornerback Brice Pollock.

The Red Raiders need to get production from newcomers once again, and they have a trio ready to produce right away in sought-after edge rushers Trey White (San Diego State) and Adam Trick (Miami Ohio) and interior defensive lineman Matten Ibirogba (Wake Forest). 

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders file

2025 record: 12-2 (8-1 Big 12)

Head coach: Joey McGuire (5th season, 35–18 record)

Offensive coordinator: Mack Leftwich (2nd season)

Defensive coordinator: Shiel Wood (2nd season)

Key returners: RB Cameron Dickey, WR Micah Hudson, WR Coy Eakin, TE Terrance Carter Jr., OT Howard Sampson, C Sheridan Wilson, DL A.J. Holmes Jr., LB Ben Roberts, CB Brice Pollock

Key newcomers: QB Brendan Sorsby (maybe), WR Malcolm Simmons, WR Kenny Johnson, OT Felix Ojo, OLB Trey White, OLB Adam Trick, DL Mateen Ibirogba, LB Austin Romaine