After a historic 2025 campaign that saw the Red Raiders clinch their first-ever College Football Playoff (CFP) berth and a Big 12 Championship, head coach Joey McGuire and the Texas Tech boosters set the floor for national championship ambitions.
However, the $5 million splash on Brendan Sorsby is turning out to be a bad business deal that even Urban Meyer has called out.
What Urban Meyer Thinks of Joey McGuire and Texas Tech’s 2026 Season Amid Brendan Sorsby Controversy
Meyer appeared in a recent episode of “Triple Option” and mentioned how the quarterback situation might result in Texas Tech missing out on the CFP.
“Think about this. You just invested $5 million. Texas Tech is no longer the Texas Tech of old; they have expectations of being in the playoffs,” Meyer remarked. “You lose that kid and the backup’s got a bad knee, your chance of going to the playoffs is dropping.”
The Sorsby era might hit a wall even before the first snap of fall camp. In late April 2026, news broke that Sorsby had entered a residential treatment program for gambling addiction. More damagingly, an NCAA investigation is currently peeling back the layers of thousands of wagers allegedly placed during his time at Indiana and Cincinnati.
The possible result? The loss of eligibility for Sorsby. Where does it leave the Red Raiders? In dire need of a signal-caller, as backup Will Hammond is also unavailable as he rehabilitates a torn ACL.
While Hammond is expected back by late fall, he hasn’t taken a competitive snap in months. This leaves the Red Raiders relying on Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis, who brings experience but lacks the explosive potential McGuire’s revamped offense requires.
So, the focus will be on the early slate that Texas Tech faces by the time Hammond comes back. But for the fans, Meyer has a positive outlook on the schedule.
“It’s not bad. I thought this might be a major hit because that quarterback could get going by then because they have really good players. They’ve invested a lot of money in that roster. I think they’re going to be favored still in all those games. You just mentioned five games. I think I think they’ll be favored in all five,” Meyer explained.
The Red Raiders open at home against Abilene Christian on Sept. 5, followed by a critical road test at Oregon State. Their five-game stretch through October, including home dates against Arizona State and Arizona, could see them favored in every contest if the defense holds.
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So, for McGuire, the mission hasn’t changed, but the math has. To return to the playoffs, he’ll have to prove that “The Brand” is bigger than any one player, even a $5 million one. Currently, PFSN CFB Playoff Meter gives them a 38% chance to make the playoffs.
