Texas Tech star JT Toppin makes major decision after ACL injury
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Texas Tech star JT Toppin makes major decision after ACL injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Texas Tech received one of its biggest pieces of offseason news when the program announced that All-American forward JT Toppin intends to return for the 2026-27 season following the ACL injury that prematurely ended his standout campaign.
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The announcement comes as a welcome development for the Red Raiders, who saw their national championship hopes take a significant hit after Toppin suffered the season-ending injury during a February loss to Arizona State. Before going down, the junior had established himself as one of the nation's most dominant frontcourt players and was widely projected as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Instead of turning his attention to the professional ranks, Toppin will return to Lubbock with hopes of leading Texas Tech back into national title contention.
JT Toppin gives Texas Tech a massive boost
Before his injury, Toppin was putting together the best season of his college career. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.4 steals while shooting 54.8% from the field across 25 games. His production earned him First-Team AP All-America honors for the second consecutive season and cemented his status as one of college basketball's premier players.
Toppin also delivered six 30-point double-doubles during the season, dominating opponents including Arkansas, Illinois, Houston and Arizona. The former New Mexico standout has improved every year of his collegiate career. After averaging 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds as a freshman with the Lobos, he elevated those numbers to 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds during his first season at Texas Tech before reaching another level in 2025-26.
His return instantly gives the Red Raiders one of the country's most accomplished players heading into next season.
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NCAA eligibility rule change helped clear the path
One factor that made Toppin's decision easier was the NCAA's recently adopted five-to-play-five eligibility model. The new rule allows eligible student-athletes five academic years to compete in five seasons, removing much of the pressure surrounding traditional redshirt decisions. Under the previous system, many expected Toppin to sit out next season after suffering such a significant injury in February.
Instead, he can return whenever he's medically cleared without worrying about sacrificing a season of eligibility. That flexibility allows both Toppin and Texas Tech to prioritize his long-term health while still giving the Red Raiders an opportunity to have their biggest star back on the court during the 2026-27 campaign.
If Toppin returns anywhere close to the level he displayed before the injury, Texas Tech could once again find itself among the favorites in the Big 12 and firmly in the conversation as a legitimate Final Four contender. Just as importantly, another healthy season would give Toppin the opportunity to rebuild his NBA Draft stock before making the jump to the professional level.