Texas Tech faces Abilene Christian after landmark 2025 season

No. 12 Texas Tech will host Abilene Christian on Saturday in a Week 1 college football matchup broadcast on FS1, according to Fox Sports.

Texas Tech enters the game after a 12–2 2025 season in which it won the Big 12 and reached the College Football Playoff for the first time before losing to Oregon in the Orange Bowl.

Will Hammond is expected to start at quarterback after Brendan Sorsby was ruled ineligible over alleged violations of NCAA sports-wagering policies and later left the programme, Fox Sports reported. Hammond appeared in nine games last season, including two starts, and recorded 680 passing yards, seven touchdowns, three interceptions, 299 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

The Red Raiders also return running backs Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams, but lost defensive captain Jacob Rodriguez, leading pass rushers including David Bailey, and their top two cornerbacks from last season.

Abilene Christian went 9–5 at the FCS level in 2025 and opened its 2026 campaign with a 21–14 loss to Lamar.

Fox Sports points to Texas Tech’s offensive production and defensive changes in recommending the Over. The outlet cited the Red Raiders’ average of 42.5 points per game during last season’s regular season, but the supplied material does not include the relevant betting figures.