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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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Thomas Castellanos is giving Texas Tech more than impressive numbers down the stretch.
He is delivering the kind of touchdown production the program has not seen in nearly a decade.
The Red Raiders quarterback threw four touchdown passes in Saturday’s 52-27 victory at Oklahoma State, following his five-touchdown performance against West Virginia.
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According to Texas Tech’s postgame notes, he became the school’s first quarterback with at least four touchdown passes in consecutive games since Nic Shimonek against Oklahoma and Kansas State in 2017.
Across those two victories, Castellanos produced 765 total yards and nine passing touchdowns. Texas Tech scored 105 points while strengthening its position in the Big 12 race.
Saturday’s performance helped the Red Raiders improve to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play. Texas Tech entered the matchup ranked No. 12 in the College Football Playoff rankings, while Oklahoma State was No. 25.
Castellanos completed 12 of 23 passes for 263 yards without an interception against the Cowboys. His four touchdown passes went to four different receivers, giving Oklahoma State multiple problems to solve throughout the night.
His biggest strike came when Texas Tech needed to slow Oklahoma State’s comeback.
After the Cowboys cut a 21-0 deficit to 21-17, Castellanos connected with Micah Hudson for an 80-yard touchdown. He later found Malcolm Simmons for a 45-yard score in the third quarter and Kenny Johnson for a 30-yard touchdown early in the fourth, stretching the lead to 42-20.
That ability to respond had been just as important a week earlier.
Against West Virginia, Castellanos threw for 362 yards and a career-high five touchdowns while rushing for 102 yards in a 53-48 victory. He completed 18 of 27 passes without an interception, helping Texas Tech recover after surrendering a 14-point halftime lead.
The decisive possession included a fourth-and-3 completion to Hudson for 26 yards. Castellanos finished the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Johnson with 2:44 remaining.
“A good old-fashioned throwback Big 12 game broke out,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said after that victory.
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The circumstances were different against Oklahoma State, but Castellanos again supplied the explosive passing plays that helped Texas Tech finish the job.
His surge has arrived quickly. The West Virginia matchup was his second start since replacing Will Hammond, and Saturday marked his third consecutive start.
With Texas Tech pursuing another Big 12 championship, Castellanos is turning his opportunity into a compelling reason to believe the Red Raiders can keep winning.
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