Texas Tech to Start Freshman Will Hammond at QB vs. Arizona State

The Texas Tech Red Raiders will go into Saturday’s game vs.  Arizona State with backup Will Hammond expected to start, according to multiple outlets. The usual starter, Behren Morton, did not practice all week with a leg injury and will be available only in an emergency capacity.

Hammond, who enrolled as a four‑star recruit in the Class of 2024, now finds himself thrust into a high‑stakes Big 12 road environment. The move is yet another chapter in Behren Morton’s complicated injury history, and now the Red Raiders must recalibrate immediately. Morton had already exited games against Utah and Kansas this year with health concerns.

For Texas Tech’s offense, the switch means reliance on a freshman signal‑caller in one of the league’s most pivotal matchups. Hammond’s opportunity may force a more simplified game plan early on while the coaching staff builds his confidence and rhythm. Yet the stakes remain high: a win here helps preserve Red Raiders’ national championship‑trajectory dreams as Big 12 competition intensifies.

While Morton remains the normal starter, this move signals a clear acknowledgment of his recurring injury issues and the need for stability at the most important position. For Hammond, this is either a launching pad for his career or a test of composure under pressure. For Texas Tech, it’s a moment of truth about how the program handles adversity under center.