The news that broke out of Lubbock last week has reframed the Big 12 Conference race.
ESPN reported that Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby would be checking into a “residential treatment program for a gambling addiction.”
And while Sorsby has hired Jeffrey Kessler, of Deflategate fame, to represent him, the likelihood of the Red Raider quarterback retaining his eligibility and playing this season is slim to none.
Further complicating matters for Texas Tech is the fact that its second-string quarterback, Will Hammond, is recovering from a torn ACL in October. Even the most optimistic projections call for him to return to the field in mid-to-late September.
That means Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis or redshirt freshman Lloyd Jones III will be stepping up into the QB1 role.
Francis started eight games against FBS competition while at Tulsa, as well as some mop-up duty. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns, completed just 56.6% of his attempts, and was sacked 20 times in those 16 appearances.
Jones offers more upside as an athlete, but he has all of five career pass attempts.
This quarterback problem has opened the door for a host of Big 12 teams to suddenly compete for the conference crown. But which team is best positioned to steal a win from the reigning Big 12 champs this fall?
Let's dive into my college football futures and NCAAF picks for Houston in 2026.
College Football Futures, Picks
Houston travels to play Texas Tech at Jones AT&T Stadium on Friday, Sept. 18. This game has been moved up a day, and that timing could actually play in the road team’s favor in this spot.
Either Hammond will be returning to play for the first time in 2026, or the Cougars will be drawing Francis or Jones.
Both teams will be playing their third game in three weeks, but Houston can treat its Week 2 matchup with Southern as a de facto preseason game. The Jaguars are coming off a disastrous 2-10 FCS campaign and will now be led by NFL legend Marshall Faulk.
Houston also has the luxury of knowing who it can trust up and down its depth chart.
Hughes Heading to Houston
The Cougars return the seventh-most production on offense and added former Tulane superstar Makhi Hughes at running back through the portal (1,577 all-purpose yards, 17 total TDs in 2024).
Houston head coach Willie Fritz recruited Hughes to Tulane when he was the head coach in New Orleans, and his addition to this offense could be massive.
When Fritz arrived at Houston in 2024, the cupboard was bare offensively, and it showed. The Cougars finished second-to-last in the FBS in scoring (14 PGG) and 128th in total offense.
Those numbers improved significantly in 2025 (55th in scoring, 61st in total offense), but there remains room for improvement.
The offensive line was addressed in the portal with four three-star recruits joining returning center McKenzie Agnello, who didn't allow a sack in 368 pass-blocking snaps last fall.
If the line improves (126th in pass blocking, 74th in run blocking, per PFF), skill-position stars like Hughes and wide receiver Amare Thomas can take this offense to the next level.
Thomas was named a first-team All-Big 12 player in 2025 after finding the end zone 12 times as the Cougars’ big-play threat. They move him all over the field and utilize presnap motion to prevent teams from doubling him, and I expect another monster season from him this fall.
Quarterback Conner Weigman has Thomas to target downfield and Oregon State transfer Trent Walker to rely on as a security blanket. Walker moved the chains 40 times last season as an elite possession receiver.
Defense Stepping Up
Defensively, the Cougars reloaded on the defensive line with transfers from Oregon, Oklahoma State and Yale.
It’s actually Yale transfer Ejiro Egodogbare who could be the biggest difference-maker. The nose tackle flashed NFL potential when healthy, as he did in 2024 when he was named first-team All-Ivy.
Defensive Coordinator Austin Armstrong has a core unit to build around, along with a bend-don’t-break approach.
Last season, Houston allowed just 48% of opponent red-zone trips to reach the end zone (13th). If its offense is as advertised, incremental improvement on that side of the ball will be enough to vie for 10 wins.
Houston's Manageable Schedule
Action Network projects Houston to be favored in nine games, with the three roadies to Kansas State, Texas Tech and Utah as the exceptions. Texas Tech may be shorthanded at quarterback, and the Cougars are projected as an underdog of less than a touchdown against both K-State and Utah.
I believe they’ll win at least one of those games, and then a fortuitous remaining schedule sets them up to reach double-digit regular-season wins for the first time in five years.
Pick: Houston to Win 10-Plus Regular-Season Games (+300 · DraftKings)
