Texas Tech’s undefeated season just hit a major speed bump, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. The No. 7 Red Raiders are rolling into Tempe to face defending Big 12 champion Arizona State on Saturday. And they’ll be doing it without their starting quarterback. Behren Morton is dealing with a lower leg injury that’s kept him off the practice field all week. For the third time this season, Joey McGuire is having to make a last-minute adjustment at the most important position on the field. And this time it’s for the biggest game of the year.

ESPN’s Brett McMurphy broke the news that really put things into perspective. “Texas Tech QB Behren Morton will be available vs. Arizona State only ‘in an emergency role’ as he continues to recover from an injury suffered last week vs. Kansas. Redshirt freshman QB Will Hammond makes his 2nd career start for Tech.” That ’emergency role’ designation tells you everything you need to know. Morton’s not healthy enough to play unless things go completely sideways. 

The injury happened early in the second quarter against Kansas when edge rusher Leroy Harris III sacked Morton and landed directly on his lower right leg. Morton walked off under his own power but never returned, watching the second half in street clothes from the sideline. McGuire confirmed afterward that it was the same leg Morton hyperextended in the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. While X-rays and an MRI came back clean, the pain and swelling have kept him out this week.​

So now, it’s time for Will Hammond, the redshirt freshman who’s become the Red Raiders’ super-sub this season. Hammond’s now appeared in all six of Texas Tech’s games, and he’s made the most of every opportunity. His best performance came on the road at Utah, where he took over at halftime. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns while adding 61 yards on the ground. 

Against Kansas, his passing numbers weren’t great (7-of-16 for just 42 yards and an interception). But he did his damage with his legs, rushing for 61 yards and two touchdowns to help seal the 42-17 win. For the season, Hammond’s sitting at a 66.7% completion rate with 411 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and two picks, while also chipping in 231 rushing yards and four more scores on the ground. 

He’s not at Morton’s level as a passer, but he brings a dual-threat element that can keep defenses honest. Against Kansas, Cameron Dickey went off for 263 yards and two touchdowns, partly because defenses had to respect Hammond’s legs.​

The big question is whether Hammond can handle the moment against a quality opponent in a hostile environment. Arizona State isn’t Kansas. They’re 4-2, coming off a bye week, and they’ll be amped up for their biggest home game of the season. This will be just Hammond’s second career start, and the pressure is entirely different when you’re not coming in mid-game to protect a lead. For Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders, this is the gut-check moment that defines seasons. And Hammond’s about to find out if he’s ready for prime time.​

The injury bug bites both sides of the ball

So if losing Behren Morton wasn’t bad enough, Texas Tech is getting hit with a double whammy that could seriously derail their undefeated season. Skyler Gill-Howard, one of the anchors of that elite Red Raiders defense, is done for the year. The senior defensive lineman went down in the same Kansas game that claimed Morton. 

And unlike the quarterback’s day-to-day situation, Gill-Howard’s prognosis is much worse. He’s already had surgery on his injured leg and won’t be back unless Texas Tech somehow makes a deep playoff run. For Joey McGuire, this is the nightmare scenario. Losing your starting quarterback and one of your best defensive players on the same afternoon, right when your schedule is about to get brutal.​

Gill-Howard isn’t some rotational guy either. He’s been absolutely vital to a Texas Tech defense that ranks ninth in the country and fourth nationally in fewest yards allowed per play. His numbers might not jump off the page (13 tackles, half a sack, and an interception), but his PFF grade tells the real story. He’s the fourth-best player at his position in the entire country. 

The Red Raiders have been suffocating opponents all season, not allowing more than 17 points in any game and holding teams to just 14.3 points per contest. Gill-Howard’s ability to clog running lanes and collapse the pocket has been a huge reason why. And now Texas Tech has to figure out how to plug that hole against an Arizona State offense that’s getting its starting quarterback back.​