Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire may be accelerating the timeline for one of the Red Raiders’ most intriguing players heading into the 2026 season.
Speaking with ESPN’s Pete Thamel, McGuire indicated that sophomore quarterback Will Hammond remains firmly in the mix to start Week 1, despite recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season. The comments represent a notable shift from the outlook McGuire expressed during spring practice, when a season-opening return appeared far less certain.
“I think he could be, I really do,” McGuire said when asked whether Will Hammond could ultimately emerge as Texas Tech’s starting quarterback for the opener.
That answer should grab the attention of Big 12 fans.
Will Hammond’s Recent History
Hammond entered last season as one of the program’s most promising young signal-callers before the injury sidelined him and cast uncertainty over his immediate future. Throughout the spring, Texas Tech took a cautious approach with Hammond’s recovery, emphasizing patience and long-term health over rushing him back onto the field.
Now, however, after the departure of Brendan Sorsby, McGuire’s latest comments suggest Hammond’s rehabilitation is progressing well enough that a Week 1 return is a legitimate possibility.
Prior to these comments on Day 1 of Big 12 media days, the target for Hammond had been Week 3 against Houston, the Big 12 opener for both teams on Friday September 18th. Moving that timeline up, possibly for the season opener in Week 1 against ACU on September 5th, would be huge for the Red Raiders.
If Hammond is cleared and ready to go, it would provide a significant boost for a Texas Tech team entering the season with lofty expectations. The Red Raiders have recruited aggressively, invested heavily in the roster and continue to position themselves as a contender in an increasingly wide-open Big 12 race.
Of course, there is still plenty of time between now and kickoff. Returning from a torn ACL is never a linear process, and Texas Tech will undoubtedly continue monitoring Hammond’s health throughout fall camp. But McGuire’s public confidence is difficult to ignore.
For now, Hammond’s status remains one of the biggest storylines in Lubbock. A few months ago, the idea of him starting the opener seemed unlikely. Today, according to the head coach himself, it’s a very real possibility.
And if he’s fully healthy for Week 1, Tech should not just be the favorites, but solid favorites, entering the 2026 college football season.
