WACO, TEXAS - JANUARY 20: JT Toppin #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks on during the second half of a game against the Baylor Bears on January 20, 2026 at the Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas.

Texas Tech loses Toppin for rest of season due to torn ACL

2 months ago

Noah Hale/Baylor Athletics / University Images / Getty

Texas Tech star JT Toppin will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL during Tuesday's loss to Arizona State, the school announced Wednesday.

Toppin is the ninth-leading scorer in the nation (21.8 points per game) and the Red Raiders' top rebounder (10.8).

The junior forward fell to the court while grabbing his right knee after driving against Arizona State center Massamba Diop with six minutes to play. Trainers tended to Toppin for several minutes before he was ruled out for the rest of the contest. He finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and two steals in 32 minutes.

JT Toppin heads to the locker room following an apparent right leg injury. pic.twitter.com/1JDSGcYK5J
— ESPN (@espn) February 18, 2026

A preseason All-American selection, Toppin has been the driving force for head coach Grant McCasland's team, which is 9-4 in the Big 12 (19-7 overall) and sits two games off Houston for the top spot in the conference. Texas Tech went 11-3 in games this season in which the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year scored more than 20 points.