Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton will make his return to college football on Saturday. The 23-year-old fifth-year senior missed the last two games due to an injury.
However, it sounds like he was actually healthy enough to play much sooner than this weekend if necessary.
Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire basically admitted to holding him out against inferior opponents. This has and will continue to become a common trend in the 12-team playoff era of college football.
Behren Morton is back.
Morton, the starting quarterback of almost three years, left the game against Kansas with an undisclosed “leg” injury. He suffered the injury on a sack during the early second quarter and did not return.
Although Morton was able to walk off the field under his own power, he returned to the sideline in street clothes after halftime. Backup quarterback Will Hammond took over in his absence.
That trend continued over the last two weeks.
Behren Morton did not play against Arizona State. Nor did he play against Oklahoma State. The Red Raiders lost to the Sun Devils by four on the road. They dominated the Cowboys last weekend.
The injury kept Morton on the sideline during games but not during practice.
“It was a lower body injury, so for the last two weeks I’ve been moving around at practice, still getting throws with CD, Reggie, TC. I feel like I’ve missed games, but I haven’t missed practice as much,” he said.
He was already feeling much better last week.
“That first week I was sore, but going back to last week of practice I was out there in shoulder pads, ripping it,” Morton said. “I was 100% going then, and this week’s practice is going to be a good one.”
The staff finally cleared him to play this week. He is finally ready to go against Kansas State.
Texas Tech held out its quarterback.
One, even two losses in the modern era of college football are not a death sentence. The expanded 12-team playoff lessens the blow of a loss. Especially if it is a close loss, on the road, with a backup quarterback.
Texas Tech lost to Arizona State in that exact way. It is still ranked No. 13 in the country with a clear path to the Big 12 Championship and the College Football Playoff.
With that in mind, the Red Raiders collectively agreed to keep Behren Morton on the sideline. According to head coach Joey McGuire, the starting quarterback was actually good to go last week, and likely would’ve played against Arizona State if it was later in the season.
Joey McGuire explains what went into the decision to hold off Behren Morton's return until Kansas State.
— Cole Banker (@colebankertv) October 28, 2025
Says he was healthy enough to play against Ok State –could have played at ASU if it were later in the year — but this week was the target date.@KLBKSports | #TexasTech pic.twitter.com/KjnNWUWenN
Morton is grateful for the time to get healthy.
“I’m feeling good. It’s been nice to have a couple weeks to really get my body back right. Excited about Saturday,” Morton said.
Texas Tech now has a fully rested and recovered quarterback with only four games left in the regular season. This kind of hold out would not be possible during a previous era, where only one loss could tank a team’s chances of making the Playoff. The 12-team format gives teams a chance to get healthy.