Will Hammond to start at quarterback for Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State

Quarterback Will Hammond will start for Texas Tech against Oklahoma State on Saturday, per On3’s Pete Nakos. Texas Tech QB1 Behren Morton is recovering from a knee injury, but will be available in an emergency role if necessary.

Hammond also started for the Red Raiders in their 26-22 loss to Arizona State last week. It was Texas Tech’s first loss of the season.

In the loss, Hammond completed just 23-of-his-37 pass attempts for 167 yards and two touchdowns, compared to one interception. Hammond also recorded a team-high 47 rushing yards and a score.

Texas Tech’s offense totaled 276 yards. For reference, the Red Raiders are averaging 517.9 total yards of offense per game this season, the third-most in the country.

Morton initially injured his knee in Texas Tech’s season-opening win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. However, the injury didn’t force him to leave the game. He re-injured his knee in Texas Tech’s win over Kansas in Week 7.

Morton has looked like a Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year candidate this season. He boasts 1,501 passing yards and 13 touchdowns, compared to just three interceptions.

While Hammond struggled at times against Arizona State’s defense, Oklahoma State should present less of a challenge. The Cowboys are allowing 468.9 yards of offense per game, the third-most in college football and the most of all Power Four programs.

Oklahoma State is 1-6 this season and 0-4 in conference play. This past weekend, the Cowboys fell 49-17 to Cincinnati. They gave up 427 yards to the Bearcats.

Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby completed 21-of-his-30 pass attempts for 284 yards and four touchdowns, without throwing an interception. Despite Oklahoma State’s record, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire isn’t overlooking the Cowboys.

“We’ve got a bunch of guys that really need to focus and bounce back and get some momentum, grab the momentum back,” McGuire said Monday. “I’m pissed off at myself, I take ownership of that loss, and I’m asking everybody else in this building do the same thing and be pissed off this week and from here on out and see if we can’t really have an edge on Saturday against Oklahoma State… We’re going to find out a lot about ourselves and how we’re going to bounce back.”

On Saturday, Texas Tech will square off against Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. CT. The pivotal Big 12 showdown will air live on ESPNU.