Texas Tech’s Big 12 hopes are looking rough after Saturday’s 37-18 loss to Cincinnati, and quarterback Will Hammond’s performance is right at the heart of it. Two costly turnovers and some seriously persistent red-zone struggles exposed a massive offensive void that’s got to be giving the Red Raiders staff headaches right now.
The Ghost of Brendan Sorsby Still Haunts Lubbock
Cincinnati had this game circled on the calendar, and we all know why: the dramatic Brendan Sorsby saga that played out over the offseason. This guy was a portal quarterback, played two seasons for Cincinnati, racked up 5,600 yards, then hit the transfer portal. Cincinnati even sued him over an alleged unpaid buyout! Then, he admits to placing thousands of dollars in bets, gets hit with permanent NCAA ineligibility. A wild court ruling restored his eligibility, only for outside pressure to force him to step away anyway. It’s a soap opera, but the bottom line is, without Sorsby, Texas Tech has a Brendan Sorsby-sized hole at QB, and Saturday showed just how much they miss him.
Hammond’s Struggles Were Brutal
Texas Tech’s staff expressed confidence in Hammond, who’s only a year out from a torn ACL. But against Cincinnati, every single concern about his play came to life. The guy threw for only 227 yards on 37 pass attempts, coughed up an interception and a fumble. Cincinnati, of course, scored off both turnovers, building an 18-point halftime lead that Texas Tech could never recover from.
It was especially bad in the game-deciding second quarter. Hammond was 2 of 6 for just 12 yards with that pick, while Cincinnati went on a 21-0 run. His red-zone inconsistency was a killer: he completed only 2 of 6 passes inside the 20, took a sack, and the Red Raiders failed to score a touchdown on their first three trips to the red zone! Their first touchdown didn’t even come until less than a minute left in the game. And here’s the kicker: through the first three quarters, Hammond had one total completion go for more than 15 yards. More than half of his passing yards, and basically all his successful shots downfield, came in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided. Yeah, that’s not what you want to see.
This miserable performance from Hammond, combined with the team allowing 257 rushing yards,including a career-high 173 yards to Cincinnati’s Kincaid,means this upset win by Cincinnati throttles the College Football Playoff picture in the Big 12. Texas Tech needs to figure this QB situation out, and fast, if they want any shot at saving their season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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