LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech Red Raiders dropped one spot to No. 13 in the AP Top 25 released Tuesday, three days after a 33-10 win over Abilene Christian.
The Associated Press had Texas Tech at No. 12 in its preseason poll. This week the AP put the Red Raiders on its cooling-down list. The US LBM Coaches Poll, released the same day, also has them at No. 13.
Saturday night was Will Hammond‘s first start as the full-time quarterback. He threw for 298 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception, slightly more than 10 months after tearing the ACL in his right knee.
Will Hammond Returns From Knee Surgery In The Texas Tech Opener
Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said Hammond had come through the rehab and everything attached to it, and that he was wound up to be back on the field.
“I told him before the game, I said, ‘First, be Will Hammond, and take a deep breath,'” McGuire said.
Hammond tore the ACL last October against Oklahoma State while filling in for Behren Morton. Quinten Joyner scored on a 14-yard run for the game’s first points. Later in the first quarter, J’Koby Williams added a rushing touchdown. Texas Tech did not reach the end zone again until the final 3 minutes, when Hammond threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Simmons. Alex Broome answered with a 98-yard kickoff return for Abilene Christian.
Abilene Christian finished with 194 total yards, including 119 through the air, and converted 6-of-15 third downs. The Wildcats threw for 506 yards in Lubbock two years ago in a 52-51 overtime loss.
Texas Tech Sits Behind Four Teams It Ranked Ahead Of In August
Alabama opened at No. 13 in the preseason AP poll and now sits at No. 12, a spot ahead of Texas Tech. LSU is up to No. 8. Penn State and SMU Mustangs, both behind the Red Raiders in August, moved to No. 16 and No. 17.
Texas Tech won the Big 12 title last season. Oregon ended the Red Raiders’ College Football Playoff run in the Orange Bowl quarterfinal on Jan. 1.
In June, the Big 12 sued the school over Brendan Sorsby‘s eligibility. The conference withdrew that lawsuit Monday.
Sorsby acknowledged more than 9,000 wagers across four years, totaling at least $90,000 on professional and college sports. Some of those were bets on Indiana during his freshman season with the Hoosiers. He left the program and has said he will focus on next year’s NFL draft.
Saturday’s road game at Oregon State kicks off at 6:30 p.m. CT on CBS. Texas Tech beat the Beavers 45-14 last season. The Big 12 opener against Houston follows on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. CT on FOX.
