Sam Houston Bearkats at Texas Tech Red Raiders

QUARTERBACK

• Landyn Locke is SHSU's confirmed starter

  9.01 Y/A

  Landyn Locke is SHSU's confirmed starting quarterback. KBTX (Sept 23, 2026) and Yahoo Sports (Sept 24, 2026) report Locke as Sam Houston's starter, having thrown for 335, 316 and 322 yards with 9 TDs and 1 INT through three games; KCBD (Sept 25, 2026) notes he ranks 7th nationally in passing yards (973) entering the Texas Tech game. 2026 line: 973 passing yards, 67.6% completions, 9.01 yards per attempt, 9-1 TD-INT over 3 games.

• Will Hammond is TTU's confirmed starter

  8.55 Y/A

  Will Hammond is TTU's confirmed starting quarterback. KCBD reported Sept 25, 2026 that Hammond 'has established himself as the full-time starter' for Texas Tech, going 17-of-27 for 257 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT vs Houston; head coach Joey McGuire quoted discussing his performance. 2026 line: 744 passing yards, 72.4% completions, 8.55 yards per attempt, 3-2 TD-INT over 3 games.

TRENCHES

• TTU: 106.7 rushing yards allowed per game to SHSU's 180.7

  74 YPG

  SHSU is at 180.7 rushing yards allowed per game over 3 games; TTU is at 106.7 over 3 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Sep 25.

MISMATCH

• SHSU: 345.7 pass yards a game to TTU's 250.7

  345.7 VS 250.7

  Sam Houston is throwing for 345.7 yards a game over 3 games, nearly double its 184.1 last season. Texas Tech is at 250.7, below its 278.5 a year ago. Sam Houston's number is far enough from its history to expect real regression, and early-season opponents may be doing some of the work. Texas Tech's passing game has the longer track record at home, so Sam Houston's air attack has to prove it against a bigger opponent.

COVERAGE

• SHSU: 110 passing yards allowed per game to TTU's 263

  153 YPG

  Through 3 games, Sam Houston has allowed 110 passing yards a game and Texas Tech has allowed 263. The sheet doesn't say who either side played, so three games can't show whether Sam Houston's number reflects a good secondary or opponents that didn't throw much. For this game, expect the gap to narrow when a Texas Tech offense tests that pass defense on the road.

• SHSU: 23.4% third downs allowed to TTU's 42.2%

  18.8 PP

  Sam Houston has let opponents convert fewer than one in four third downs through 3 games, while Texas Tech's defense has given up 42.2% over the same stretch. Three games is a small sample, and the sheet doesn't say who those offenses were, so part of that gap may be schedule. When Sam Houston is on offense, the Tech number is the softer one, which matters for how long its drives last and how many points it can put up.

REPLACEMENT

• DJ Bailey (QB) is suspended for SHSU

  SUSPENDED

  KBTX (Sept 23, 2026) reported backup QB DJ Bailey was removed from Sam Houston's roster following the Nicholls homecoming win after reportedly taking off his shoulder pads before the game ended; head coach Phil Longo called it 'an in-house issue that is ongoing.' Backup QB DJ Bailey off Sam Houston roster following homecoming win (2026-09-23)

SITUATIONAL

• SHSU: 345.7 team passing yards per game to TTU's 250.7

  95 YPG

  Sam Houston is throwing for 345.7 a game over three games after only 184.1 last season, a huge change that points to either a new offensive approach or a light schedule. Texas Tech is at 250.7, down from 278.5 last year. A road game at Tech is the real test of whether that passing jump is real. Be wary of paying for the 345.7 until it shows up against a stronger defense.