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· collected 2026-08-21 · by Stephen Hawkins The Associated Press
Texas Tech is expecting a repeat performance after winning its first Big 12 championship and making the College Football Playoff last season, despite losing several key players to the NFL draft. The team has reloaded through the transfer portal, adding 10 upperclassmen to the defensive front seven, including edge rushers Trey White and Adam Trick. Texas Tech's offense is expected to be led by quarterback Will Hammond, who will succeed Behren Morton after recovering from an ACL injury last season. The team's defense is a concern due to the influx of new players, but they are still considered one of the nation's best with a deep and talented roster.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
No. 12 Texas Tech, ranked 12th in the country, is expecting to repeat its success after winning its first Big 12 championship and making it into the College Football Playoff last season. Despite losing several key players, including six defensive players who were drafted into the NFL, the team has reloaded through the transfer portal, bringing in 10 upperclassmen for the defensive front seven. One of the new additions is edge rusher Trey White, who had 19 1/2 sacks over his last three seasons at San Diego State. The team also returns back Ben Roberts, who had 90 tackles and two interceptions in the Big 12 championship game, and cornerback Brice Pollock, who led the conference with five interceptions. With these new additions and returning players, there's no reason to think that Texas Tech can't repeat its success from last season.
Written for “Texas Tech Expectations Rise” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 1753 · logged 2026-08-31
Texas Tech expects a repeat after winning its first Big 12 championship and making the College Football Playoff last season.
asserted
Tech → expect → Playoff
And there’s no reason to think the 12th-ranked Red Raiders can’t do it again, even after a school-record nine NFL draft picks, including six defensive players.
asserted
Raiders → ’ → players
They should also be just fine after the offseason saga surrounding departed transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby, the expected starter before an NCAA gambling investigation and since-dropped lawsuit over his eligibility.
asserted
They → surround → eligibility
Well-funded Texas Tech reloaded through the transfer portal, including 10 upperclassmen for the defensive front seven.
asserted
Tech → fund → seven
Linebacker Austin Romaine had 162 tackles the past two seasons at Kansas State.
asserted
Romaine → have → State
Edge rushers Trey White (19 1/2 sacks the last three seasons at San Diego State) and Adam Trick (13 sacks in three seasons at Miami, Ohio) are also expected to fill big holes.
asserted
White → expect → holes
Back are three-year starting linebacker Ben Roberts, who last season had 90 tackles and was the top defensive player in the Big 12 championship game when he had two interceptions, and cornerback Brice Pollock (Big 12-leading five interceptions).
asserted
he → have → interceptions
Will Hammond will succeed NFL draft pick Behren Morton as the starting quarterback.
asserted
Hammond → succeed → quarterback
The schedule does not include No. 14 BYU or No. 21 Utah during the regular season, though there is a September game against No. 23 Houston.
asserted
schedule → include → Houston
Strengths include returning skill players
Coach Joey McGuire said Hammond will be ready for the opener and is “going to have a lot of people around him to help him succeed.”
asserted
him → include → him
That includes the returning running back duo of Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams, receiver Coy Eakin (48 catches, 637 yards, six TDs) and tight end Terrance Carter Jr. (51 catches).
asserted
That → include → Dickey
Several receivers were added from the portal.
asserted
receivers → add → portal
Dickey ran for 1,124 yards and Big 12-leading 14 TDs last season, while Williams had 868 yards and six TDs rushing.
asserted
Williams → run → yards
They also combined for 60 catches and four more TDs.
asserted
They → combine → catches
Concerns might be the influx of so many new players on defense
Tech’s defense is deeper and could end up being better than last season, when it was one of the nation’s best.
uncertain
it → end → nation
But all the newcomers have to jell like last year’s group did, and will have to play some games to see if it all comes together again.
asserted
it → have → games
The entire expected starting defensive front is new, with many also backed up by new incoming players.
asserted
many → back → players
