Texas Tech fans just went through an absolute emotional rollercoaster, didn’t they? Quarterback Thomas Castellanos, the guy who has been absolutely electric, went down with an injury scare, and for a few agonizing moments, it felt like the Red Raiders’ shot at a national championship was in serious jeopardy. Thankfully, we can all breathe a huge sigh of relief because the X-rays came back good, according to Lubbock reporter Don Williams, who quoted head coach Joey McGuire.
A Near Disaster and a Dominant Response
Seriously, when news broke about Castellanos, who had “landed on the ball,” getting the wind knocked out and worries about his ribs, every Red Raider fan’s heart had to drop straight to their stomach. But good news, folks! Coach McGuire confirmed the X-rays were clean, and Castellanos “could have gone back in had game been close.” That’s huge, because this isn’t just any regular season. This team is gunning for something big. They’re trying to reach the Big 12 championship game, and a healthy Castellanos is non-negotiable for that run.
And what a response they had after that scare! Texas Tech absolutely blasted Oklahoma State on Saturday, winning 52-27. That’s a convincing win, especially after they had to grind out a tough one against West Virginia in their previous game. After the game, Coach McGuire was pumped, saying, “I am so proud of our guys. They responded…..we keep finding ways to win.” And Castellanos himself? He had another monster game, throwing four touchdown passes and racking up 263 passing yards. Get this: he’s now got a ridiculous nine touchdown passes in his last two games! That’s the kind of production you need from your signal-caller.
Big 12 Contention and National Championship Dreams
This Oklahoma State victory pushed the Red Raiders to an impressive 9-1 on the season. They’re sitting pretty at second in the Big 12 standings, with only undefeated Utah ahead of them. This team isn’t just trying to win games, they’re looking for another trip to the College Football Playoff, and they mean business. Last year, in 2025, Texas Tech actually won the Big 12 championship and made it to the CFP before losing to Oregon. They clearly want another shot at the national championship, and they’re playing like it.
Coach McGuire summed up the team’s attitude perfectly, stating, “We have got a lot of pride being Red Raiders. We are going to play with a chip on our shoulder. We are going to keep trying to win, and play our way into that conference championship game.” This isn’t just talk, this team is showing it on the field.
The Red Raiders still have crucial conference games left against Baylor and TCU. Next up, they play Baylor on Saturday. This team has its eyes firmly on that conference title and a return to the national championship stage. With Castellanos healthy and playing at an elite level, that dream is very much alive.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply