Traveling in for the game? Visit Lubbock has you covered for Things to Do, Can’t Miss Experiences and Where to Stay!

___

For eight months, Texas Tech has been the main character in a story it didn’t necessarily ask to be part of. The Red Raiders won the Big 12 in 2025, and almost immediately, the explanations began. The league was down. Texas and Oklahoma are gone. Cody Campbell spent too much money. Texas Tech had an easy path.

Whatever the explanation, there always seemed to be a reason why the Red Raiders’ success shouldn’t count quite as much as it did.

Then came the College Football Playoff shutout. The Brendan Sorsby saga. Will Hammond’s health. The decision to bring in Tommy Castellanos. Joey McGuire taking shots at Steve Sarkisian. The rest of the Big 12 taking shots at Texas Tech. And, somehow, the inability to get anyone to agree to schedule the Red Raiders.

It has been a remarkably long offseason. And, quite frankly, I’m over it.

Not because all of those stories have been resolved. Some haven’t. Not because the questions surrounding Texas Tech have gone away. They haven’t.

But because none of it matters once the pads go on. Saturday, ACU comes to Lubbock and we finally get to see what this Texas Tech team looks like. Matten Ibirogba, Adam Trick, WR1 Micah Hudson, Kenny Johnson, Quinten Joyner. I can hardly contain myself.

When we last saw ACU

In 2024, ACU had a legitimate amount of FBS talent on its roster, including players who either weren’t recruited by the previous Texas Tech staff or felt underutilized by the current one when they were in Lubbock. There was enough familiarity between the two programs to make everyone a little uncomfortable.

Still, nobody expected what happened when the lights came on.

The Wildcats and Red Raiders played an overtime thriller and it was electric, just not in the way Texas Tech wanted.

Fast forward to 2026, Nehemiah Martinez, Maverick McIvor and Isaiah Johnson aren’t walking through the tunnel for ACU. That’s not to say there aren’t still plenty of connections between the programs. ACU has several former Red Raiders on its roster and a coaching staff that includes former DC Keith Patrick, QB Graham Harrell, WR and WRs coach Joel Filani and S Joseph Plunk. 

On the Texas Tech side, Coy Eakin, Cameron Dickey, Ben Roberts, John Curry, Brendan Jordan, Ansel Nedore and Sheridan Wilson all played in that game and are still around.

You think they don’t remember the last time ACU felt disrespected? I’m not suggesting Texas Tech has spent the last two years dreaming about beating ACU by 50 points because of what happened in 2024, but if there’s a little residual aggression left over, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Red Raiders take it out on somebody.

Especially after the offseason they’ve had.

They’ve been hearing for months that their program tried to ruin college football. They’ve heard that last season doesn’t mean much because of the state of the Big 12. They’ve heard the jokes about the money and the questions about whether Joey McGuire has actually built something sustainable.

At some point, you get tired of explaining yourself.

The best response is to play. Not just play but win. Not just win but win big. 

And that makes Saturday about more than simply beating an FCS opponent.

It’s about the first impression.

The first look

Let’s start with QB1 Will Hammond.

There is a national narrative that Hammond became an afterthought when Texas Tech went out and paid Sorsby. Then Castellanos arrived and the story became that Hammond was being pushed aside again.

Neither is true.

Hammond won’t erase the narratives with one evening against ACU. Nobody should expect that. But he can start replacing the narrative with something much more useful: evidence.

I want him to look like he owns the offense. I want quick decisions. I want the ball out on time. I want him comfortable in the pocket and decisive when the play breaks down.

Most importantly, I want him to look like the quarterback Texas Tech believes he can be.

The defense has an equally important first impression to make.

The 2025 unit was the biggest reason Texas Tech reached the top of the Big 12. This offseason the Red Raiders had to replace a substantial amount of production. Jacob Rodriguez, David Bailey, Lee Hunter and Romello Height are now in the NFL.

I don’t know if Shiel Wood can replicate the insane turnover rate and run defense that stuffed opponents into lockers last year. But Saturday should offer the first clue of what the 2026 unit can be. 

And then there’s Mack Leftwich.

The 2nd year offensive coordinator has his own unfinished business. His offense struggled in the red zone last season, the running game was inconsistent, and the last time Leftwich called a football game, his offense scored zero points on a national stage.

I have to imagine that kept him up at night all offseason.

He doesn’t need to show everything Saturday. He certainly doesn’t need to empty the playbook against ACU, but his offense needs to look established. I want balance in 2026. Not necessarily an even split between running and passing, but a genuine effort to make the opposing team defend everybody.

All three running backs, Terrence Carter and the tight ends, Micah Hudson, Coy Eakin and the WRs. I want everyone involved on Saturday. 

This is about the eye test

The betting line sits at Texas Tech -42.5.

I don’t think getting there will be particularly difficult. I’d be surprised if many of the starters are still playing deep into the third quarter. I’d be even more surprised if the twos are on the field in the fourth. All three Texas Tech coaches have spent the week talking about the lack of a drop-off from the 1s to the 3s. I want that to be true on Saturday night.

Ultimately, I want Texas Tech to win and cover but more than that I want to feel like they dominated after the game. 

Does Texas Tech look bigger?

Does it look faster?

Do the offensive and defensive lines look like they’re playing a different sport?

Are receivers creating separation?

Does Hammond look comfortable?

Does the defense swarm?

Do the transfers look at home?

Do the backups look like they belong?

Those answers matter more to me than whether Texas Tech wins by 30 or 50.

Texas Tech won’t be in a courtroom on Saturday; they’ll be on the field. If ACU can turn in another Super Bowl performance I’ll just have to tip my cap to Keith Patterson and Graham Harrell. That’s not my expectation though. 

This team has too much on the line to not start 2026 fast. ACU just happens to be the unlucky opponent behind door number one. It’s just week one in the beginning of a revenge tour against the Big 12, but the Red Raiders might as well settle an old score while they’re at it.

Prediction: Texas Tech 52, ACU 7.