Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback room looked very different a week ago. Brendan Sorsby was the starter, Will Hammond was recovering, and the plan felt clear. However, since Sorsby is gone now, everything has shifted.

On June 15, On3's Pete Nakos reported that Hammond's ACL recovery is going well. But the timeline still puts him behind schedule for the season opener. That means someone else is likely starting Week 1.

Tulsa Golden Hurricane transfer quarterback Kirk Francis is expected to get the nod for the opening weeks of the season, according to Nakos. Francis has 18 career games of experience. He is not Sorsby, but he is not a blank slate either.

Hammond has been working with quarterback trainer Jeff Christensen since early March. Christensen also works with Patrick Mahomes. The recovery is moving in the right direction.

"Things are really, really good," Christensen told On3. "The knee is getting better at a rapid pace; it's going really well."

The original plan was for Sorsby to return for Week 3 against the Houston Cougars. However, after being granted an injunction against the NCAA’s ruling to ban him for betting on the Indiana Hoosiers, the quarterback is set to apply for entry into the NFL supplemental draft.

With Sorsby now out of the picture, the pressure to get back sooner is real. Whether he can go by September 5 against Abilene Christian is still unclear.

Hammond showed a lot before the injury. In eight games last fall, he threw for 680 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. He also ran for 299 yards and five scores. He came off the bench against Utah Utes and led Texas Tech to a 34-10 win.

Hammond getting healthy matters a lot for Texas Tech's season. For now, the focus is reportedly on Francis.

Who Is Kirk Francis and What Does He Bring to Texas Tech

Francis transferred from Tulsa ahead of the 2026 season. He has played in 18 career games at the college level, giving him more experience than most backups walking into a starting role this early.

Over his career, he has completed 270 of 462 passes (58.4%) for 3,045 yards, with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

At Tulsa, he was known as a precise pocket passer who wins with his accuracy. Texas Tech's offense under Joey McGuire has always valued that kind of versatility at the position.

He was not recruited to be a starter at Texas Tech. But with Sorsby gone and Hammond still working his way back, Francis is the most ready option the Red Raiders have right now.

Do you think Texas Tech can still compete in the Big 12 without Sorsby in 2026? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar