November 09, 2026 | Football
Texas Tech picked up two Big 12 weekly honors Monday following its 53-48 victory over West Virginia
LUBBOCK, Texas โ Texas Tech earned multiple Big 12 Conference weekly honors Monday as quarterback Thomas Castellanos with tabbed as one of the league's top offensive performers, while his offensive line was recognized as the conference's top unit up front.
It was the first career conference weekly award for Castellanos, who recorded career highs with 362 passing yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for another 102 yards to spark Texas Tech to a 53-48 victory Saturday night over West Virginia. It was his second 100-yard rushing performance in as many games since being named Texas Tech's starter prior to its win over No. 22 Arizona.
Castellanos became the first Red Raider in school history and only the second Big 12 player to throw for at least 350 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 100 or more yards in the same game. He is the first FBS player to hit all three marks since Byrum Brown did so at South Florida in 2023 against Memphis, and the first power conference quarterback to do so since Miami's D'Eriq King in 2020 at NC State.
Castellanos threw four touchdowns in the first half alone as the Red Raiders piled up a staggering 492 yards of offense to take a 41-27 lead at the break. He also provided the game-winning touchdown, finding Kenny Johnson from 5-yards out with only 2:44 remaining. Behind Castellanos' ability to make plays with his arm and his legs, Texas Tech became the first FBS program in the last 30 years to have one player with 350 passing yards, 100 rushing yards and five passing touchdowns and another, J'Koby Williams, with 150 rushing yards and a rushing score in the same game.
Texas Tech totaled 638 yards of offense in the win behind an offensive line that was recognized as the conference's top unit for a second straight week. As a unit, the Red Raiders surrendered only two sacks, continuing their reign as one of the nation's top pass-blocking teams.
Pro Football Focus ranks Texas Tech second among FBS schools and first among power conference teams with an 87.9 overall pass blocking grade as a team. Pro Football Focus released its All-Big 12 Team for the week early Sunday morning, which featured three of five spots going to the Texas Tech offensive line in Howard Sampson, Sheridan Wilson and Cash Cleveland. Wilson was a member of the publication's National Team of the Week following another strong performance at center.
The win improved the Red Raiders to 8-1 on the season heading into a Saturday night tilt at Oklahoma State. Kickoff between the Red Raiders and Cowboys is slated for 8:30 p.m. with coverage provided on ESPN and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
