Texas Tech enters the 2026 college football season with lofty expectations, as USA Today projects the Red Raiders to capture the Big 12 championship.
The preseason accolades underscore the team's depth, with quarterback Will Hammond’s health drawing particular attention, while six defensive standouts earned spots on the all‑defensive preseason squad.
Preseason Honors and Rankings
Among the honorees, Terrance Carter Jr. and Howard Sampson headline the offensive selections, while defensive linemen Adam Trick, Mateen Ibirogba and AJ Holmes, linebacker Ben Roberts, cornerback Brice Pollock, and specialists Stone Harrington and J'Koby Williams round out the unit.
Roberts also received the distinction of Big 12 preseason Defensive Player of the Year, a testament to his impact on the line.
Rankings, however, paint a more fragmented picture. ESPN has removed the Red Raiders from its top‑10 list, citing the loss of Brendan Sorsby, while The New York Times and The Athletic place them at No. 10, emphasizing Hammond’s readiness. CBS Sports ranks them ninth nationally, whereas Athlon Sports and Fox Sports push them outside the top ten and twelve respectively, both pointing to quarterback uncertainty. The Sporting News settles them at No. 20 for similar reasons.
The divergent assessments reflect a broader narrative: a talented roster brimming with preseason recognition, yet one that must resolve questions at the quarterback position to translate promise into a conference title.