Texas Tech is the new portal king. James Blanchard & Co. solidified that title by landing Cincinnati transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby in a head-to-head battle with LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin. Sorsby is Texas native who played his high school ball at Lake Dallas before starting his college career at Indiana, starting seven times in 2023. 

Sorsby transferred to Cincinnati ahead of the 2024 season and emerged as one of the Big 12’s top signal-callers. He threw for 2,813 yards and added 447 on the ground, scoring 27 total touchdowns. He was even better as a junior in 2025, passing for 2,800 yards, running for 580, and accounting for 36 total touchdowns. 

Texas Tech was in the market for a quarterback because of Behren Morton’s graduation and Will Hammond’s ACL injury. Hammond won’t return until the late summer or fall of 2026 and the Red Raiders required a bridge until he could take over in 2027. Sorsby, who has one year of eligibility remaining, is the perfect fit. 

Texas Tech was 12-2 in 2025 while claiming its first Big 12 championship during Year 4 of the Joey McGuire era. The Red Raiders lose a ton of talent to eligibility and the portal, but the signing of Sorsby sends a clear message: They’re the favorites to win the Big 12 once again in 2026. Expect Tech to spend money to improve around on offense while restocking the defensive line. Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine committed to the Red Raiders earlier on Sunday for the first big defensive splash of the cycle.