LUBBOCK - Texas Tech scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the season, and kicker Stone Harrington made four field goals as a conservative offense was plenty enough for the No. 12-ranked Red Raiders to defeat Abilene Christian 33-10 Saturday night at Galaxy Stadium.
New starting quarterback Will Hammond began his redshirt sophomore season completing 14 straight passes before throwing an interception.
MORE: No. 12 Texas Tech vs. Abilene Christian Preview: Red Raiders Open 2026 With Bigger Expectations
However, as was the case in Tech's historic 2025 season, the defense eliminated any threat of an answer with a punishing defense that made several big hits in the backfield and in the flat.
Hammond completed 79 percent of his passes (26/33) for 298 yards, recording a 158.6 passer rating.
The Red Raiders found success early with their committee of running backs - J'Koby Williams, Cam Dickey and Quinten Joyner - who rotated in the backfield throughout the game.
Head coach Joey McGuire's pregame depth chart designated each of the backs as "starters," but Williams received the first snaps. The committee accounted for 162 total yards on the ground.
Williams produced 71 rushing yards and 57 receiving yards for a team-high 128 yards from scrimmage.
Defensive end Jamond Mathis posted 2.5 sacks after getting more snaps with projected starter Trey White out with a knee injury.
Here's how the Red Raiders improved to 1-0 to begin the 2026 season:
First Quarter
The Red Raiders marched 75 yards on seven plays to open the game, with Joyner taking his first carry in scarlet and black up the middle and through the Wildcat defense for a 14-yard touchdown. The former USC transfer missed all of last season with a knee injury suffered in fall camp.
Facing third down and three to go, the Tech defense got a stop with linebacker Ben Roberts - the Most Outstanding Player of last year's Big 12 Championship - blowing up a screen pass with a thunderous hit behind the line of scrimmage.
Florida State transfer Thomas Castellanos entered the game at quarterback for Texas Tech, but rather than show off his dangerous dual-threat ability, he handed it off to Williams. The junior ball-carrier bounced it outside for a 5-yard score.
Hammond was 9 for 9 through the air in the quarter for 85 yards. Williams totaled 64 yards from scrimmage.
Red Raiders led the Wildcats 14-0 in a quick opening quarter.
Second Quarter
The Texas Tech linebacker group forced another ACU punt, but this time in pass coverage as John Curry knocked a reception loose from standout freshman receiver Romelo Boykin.
Excellent punt coverage pinned the Red Raiders deep before Dickey shed tackles for a 12-yard rush to give the offense breathing room. Tech moved the ball at will without needing to break up open downfield packages.
That was, until Hammond completed a pair of passes to the middle of the field before being intercepted along the right sideline by ACU safety Javeon Wilcox. Hammond's pick ended his streak of 14 straight completions to start the game.
The Red Raiders stuffed a rush up the middle on third down and short, but Texas Tech's first penalty of the game came on the punt team, giving ACU a fresh set of downs.
ACU quarterback John David Black was hit and sacked by Mathis, and Miami (Ohio) transfer end Adam Trick got a stop on third and long to give the ball back to the Red Raiders.
Hammond missed on a few passes into the end zone on Tech's next offensive set, but Stone Harrington knocked through a short field goal. The Wildcats enjoyed a handful of Tech penalties to drive 51 yards and answer with a field goal of their own, determining the halftime score of 17-3.
The Red Raiders had just three offensive plays of more than 15 yards in the opening half.
Third Quarter
Curry intercepted Black's pass in the flat and returned it into the red zone on the first play of the second half. Harrington's 28-yard field goal extended the Texas Tech lead to 20-3.
After nearly recovering a fumble, the Tech defense swarmed Black in the backfield as Mathis teamed up with All-American AJ Holmes Jr. for the Red Raiders' second sack.
Williams built on his big play out of the backfield with Tech's longest play of the night, a catch-and-run of 28 yards to return into ACU territory.
The drive ended with Harrington connecting on his third field goal of the night, ending another series where Hammond's offense was sharper on the ground than through the air downfield.
Abilene Christian crossed the 50 into Tech territory for just the third time of the game off of a 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty. Lefty kicker Brandon Perez missed a 51-yard field goal for the Wildcats moments later.
Hammond connected with Johnson for a gain of 31 yards to get the quarterback above 200 passing yards for the game. The cautious play-calling in the red zone continued, however, forcing Harrington to convert another field goal.
Fourth Quarter
The Galaxy Stadium crowd - more specifically, students in The Jones Student Section - was treated to a drone show at the end of the third quarter, adding to the intergalactic nature of the stadium's new name.
Black was taken down short of the yard to gain on fourth down after the Wildcats' longest drive of the game ended in the red zone for the first time.
Malcom Simmons, who spent much of the game as a kick returner, sprinted to a 64-yard touchdown pass on his first reception of the game.
The ensuing kickoff was returned 98 yards by ACU running back Alex Broome for the Wildcats' first touchdown.
MORE: No. 12 Texas Tech vs. Abilene Christian Preview: Red Raiders Open 2026 With Bigger Expectations
Up Next
Texas Tech (1-0) travels to the Pacific Northwest to face Oregon State next week. The Beavers lost to Houston, Tech's Week 3 opponent, 33-20 on the road.
The Red Raiders' next home game is the Friday night Big 12 Conference opener against the Cougars.
FCS No. 20-ranked Abilene Christian faces FCS No. 13 Tarleton State next Saturday in Abilene.
