Hammond leads Red Raiders past Bearkats 49-14 in Lubbock

Dominant Home Performance

Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond anchored a commanding offensive display, completing 17 of 29 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns against the Sam Houston Bearkats. The No. 11 Red Raiders, playing at home in Lubbock, secured a 49-14 victory on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The win improved Texas Tech's record to 4-0, while Sam Houston dropped to 1-3.

The matchup featured a stark contrast in offensive production, with the Red Raiders outscoring the visitors 49 points to 14 in front of a crowd of 59,704 at Galaxy Stadium.

Early Deficits

The game opened with Texas Tech establishing an early lead. Cameron Dickey rushed for a one-yard touchdown, giving the Red Raiders a 7-0 advantage in the first quarter. Sam Houston responded in the second period, but Texas Tech maintained control.

Austin Romaine returned two interceptions for touchdowns of 15 and 31 yards, respectively, extending the home lead to 21-0. Although Tim Burns Jr. caught a 52-yard pass from Landyn Locke and Chris Reed added a nine-yard reception for the Bearkats, Texas Tech held a 21-14 lead at halftime. The defensive performance by Romaine was pivotal in preventing the visitors from gaining momentum.

Sustained Offense

The Red Raiders continued their scoring surge in the third quarter. Cameron Dickey added another rushing touchdown on a 13-yard run, pushing the lead to 28-14. Will Hammond then connected with Coy Eakin on a 21-yard pass, bringing the score to 35-14.

The Texas Tech offense showed no signs of slowing down, with Hammond and Dickey combining for multiple scores. The Bearkats were unable to generate additional points in the second half, leaving them stranded at 14 points for the entire contest.

Final Moments

In the fourth quarter, Texas Tech added two more touchdowns to seal the rout. Will Hammond rushed for a 23-yard score, increasing the lead to 42-14. Thomas Castellanos completed a 27-yard pass to Malcolm Simmons for the final points, making it 49-14.

Landyn Locke led the Sam Houston offense with 195 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Alton McCaskill rushed for 25 yards. For Texas Tech, Kenny Johnson added 60 receiving yards on three catches. The Red Raiders demonstrated superior execution and defensive stops to maintain their undefeated season.

Sources

ESPN