A Dominant Home Opening
A crowd of 60,229 packed Galaxy Stadium on Saturday, September 5, 2026, to witness Texas Tech Red Raiders secure a decisive 33-10 victory over the visiting Abilene Christian Wildcats. The Red Raiders, playing at home, improved their record to 1-0, while the Wildcats fell to 0-2. The game featured a standout performance by Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond, who was back in action and demonstrated significant offensive control throughout the contest.
Scoring Breakdown
The Red Raiders established an early lead in the first quarter, scoring 14 points to Abilene Christian’s zero. Quinten Joyner opened the scoring with a 14-yard run, followed by J'Koby Williams adding a 5-yard touchdown run. Both plays were converted by kicker Stone Harrington. In the second quarter, the gap widened as Harrington connected on a 23-yard field goal for Texas Tech, while Abilene Christian’s Brandon Perez answered with a 41-yard field goal. The first half concluded with Texas Tech leading 17-3.
Third-Quarter Surge
Texas Tech’s special teams unit dominated the third period, scoring nine points to Abilene Christian’s zero. Stone Harrington extended the Red Raiders' advantage with three consecutive field goals from 28, 33, and 45 yards. This relentless kicking performance put Texas Tech in a commanding 26-3 lead heading into the final quarter, effectively neutralizing the Wildcats' ability to mount a competitive threat.
Final Moments and Statistics
The fourth quarter saw a shift in momentum as Abilene Christian scored seven points. Alex Broome returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, with Brandon Perez adding the extra point. However, Texas Tech closed the game with a 64-yard pass from Will Hammond to Malcolm Simmons, secured by another Stone Harrington kick. Hammond finished with 298 passing yards on 26 of 33 attempts, throwing one touchdown and one interception. J'Koby Williams rushed for 71 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries, while Kenny Johnson led the receiving corps with 76 yards on four catches. For Abilene Christian, John David Black threw for 119 yards and one interception, Alex Broome rushed for 52 yards, and Cristian Driver caught eight passes for 93 yards.
Sources
https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401856770
