Expectations have rarely been higher in Lubbock.
No. 12 Texas Tech will kick off the 2026 football season Saturday night against Abilene Christian in front of a sold-out crowd at Galaxy Stadium, beginning a campaign in which the Red Raiders aren't just thinking about competing for championships. They want to make some noise in the College Football Playoff.
Before Tech fans start dreaming about what could come later, however, head coach Joey McGuire has a pretty good reason to make sure nobody overlooks Saturday's opponent.
He remembers what happened the last time the Wildcats came to town.
“The last time they were in this stadium, they took us to overtime, and if it wasn't for Jayden Cofield making a play right there in the end, we lose that game,” McGuire said. “I was holding my breath, and I don't know if I actually saw the play. I think I was praying and looking down at the ground.”
Texas Tech escaped that 2024 matchup with a game-saving goal-line stand in overtime.
Two years later, the circumstances surrounding the program couldn't be much different.
Expectations have changed in Lubbock
The Red Raiders have since captured their first Big 12 Championship and earned a College Football Playoff appearance. Now they enter 2026 ranked No. 12 in the country, the second-highest preseason ranking in program history.
The roster reflects those expectations.
Texas Tech's roster has an estimated valuation of $34.96 million, according to The NIL Standard, after mega-booster Cody Campbell's financial investment in the program became a major college football storyline during the 2025 season.
More important for Saturday night might be the amount of experience returning to the field.
Texas Tech brings back 23 starters from last season, with quarterback representing the major change.
That's where Will Hammond comes in.
Hammond gets his shot
The junior quarterback will make the start Saturday after spending much of the offseason working his way back from the season-ending knee injury he suffered in 2025.
For Hammond, simply being healthy and back with his teammates is reason enough to be excited.
“It feels great to be 100%,” Hammond said. “Feels great to be back out there with the guys and not worried about any of the offseason things and just being able to go out there and play. We're excited, man.”
He won't be working with an inexperienced group around him, either.
McGuire has praised the depth of his roster and described this year's squad as the deepest team he's been around.
Ideally, Tech fans won't see Hammond for four quarters Saturday.
McGuire said the Red Raiders hope to build enough of a lead to get Hammond off the field early and take advantage of their depth. That includes getting all four quarterbacks on the roster into the game.
It's the kind of problem Texas Tech would be happy to have.
ACU already has a game under its belt
Abilene Christian enters Lubbock with one advantage the Red Raiders don't have: The Wildcats have already played a football game.
ACU opened its season Aug. 29 with a 21-14 loss to Lamar, giving Texas Tech actual 2026 game film to study.
“We know exactly who we're playing,” McGuire said. “We've got some good games. We're looking at what they do on defense. They're very multiple on defense. They move around a lot up front.”
But that Week Zero game also means ACU has already experienced game speed, made adjustments and had an opportunity to work through some of the mistakes that typically accompany a season opener.
McGuire expects the Wildcats to be ready.
Texas Tech had better be, too.
Time to see what the Red Raiders have
Saturday night represents the first chance to see whether all the offseason hype surrounding Texas Tech can translate to the field.
The Red Raiders have the ranking. They have an experienced roster. They have a healthy Hammond ready to take control of the offense. And they'll have a packed Galaxy Stadium behind them.
Most importantly, this is a Texas Tech team that isn't hiding from expectations.
“We do expect to win the Big 12,” McGuire said. “We have a really good football team. They have a high curve factor, and I don't know if I've been around a team more excited to play.”
Now comes the fun part.
