Injury Sidelines Texas Tech Football Star Quinten Joyner for the Season

A promising player for the Texas Tech football team, Quinten Joyner, will sit out the 2026 season. Joyner, who transferred to the Red Raiders from USC after two years, unfortunately sustained a non-contact injury during a recent scrimmage. Coach Joey McGuire confirmed on his podcast that the concern voiced by the team has come true—Joyner has torn his ACL.

Ranked 23rd in the preseason, Texas Tech now faces the challenge of losing a key player expected to carry a significant load in their backfield this season.

Joyner, a four-star recruit, opted to leave Texas for California to explore various offers. Last season, he finished with 478 rushing yards and four touchdowns while serving as the backup to Woody Mark. The move to Texas Tech seemed beneficial for him, as it promised more playing time and brought him closer to home.

However, McGuire must now look to others on the depth chart, particularly Cameron Dickey and J’koby Williams, to take over Joyner’s responsibilities. “I hate it for him, especially after seeing how he performed in spring and summer camp,” said McGuire. “He really stepped up and acted like a pro, tackling many challenges we threw at him.”

The Red Raiders will have to rethink their strategies, especially given that Joyner had the potential to be a pivotal piece of their offensive puzzle. This season, Texas Tech hopes to improve on last year’s 8-5 record. The Big 12 does not have a clear frontrunner, and Texas Tech will be vying with teams like Arizona, Kansas, and Iowa for a position in the top 25.

Injuries are, unfortunately, a harsh reality in football. With Joyner out of the picture, McGuire’s team will need to adopt a fresh mindset to adapt and push forward. The Red Raiders are set to kick off their 2025 season against Arkansas Pine Bluff on August 30th.