Texas Tech Rolls Oklahoma State 52-27 For 3rd Ranked Win of 2026

Texas Tech continued taking care of business on its intended journey back to the Big 12 Championship game, this week taking down Oklahoma State, 52-27, in the penultimate road game of the season.

The Red Raiders, positioned No. 12 in the latest CFP national rankings, had a high-powered offense on display from the opening kickoff and sealed the statement victory with a defense that nearly held one of the nation's best scoring offenses scoreless in the second half.

Thomas Castellanos, who got injured in the fourth quarter, competed in his first Dust Bowl and maintained his excellent performance since taking over the starting quarterback position three weeks ago. The veteran transfer averaged 21.9 yards per completion for 263 yards and four touchdown passes.

His counterpart, Cowboys star and likely NFL Draft prospect Drew Mestemaker, was 27-of-42 passing for 277 yards and two interceptions. His streak of eight games with 300 or more passing yards came to an end.

Texas Tech (9-1) has now won its third ranked game of the season, joining Texas (5), Georgia (4), Ole Miss (3), and Oregon (3) as the only programs with three or more wins against top-25 teams.

Texas Tech is in the top three nationally in wins when scoring first, and wide receiver Malcolm Simmons helped make an immediate dent on the visiting scoreboard. Returning from an undisclosed injury absence, Simmons took the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.

Defensive tackles Bryce Butler and AJ Holmes created chaos in the backfield for Mestemaker, forcing a punt from the Pokes on their first possession.

The kick return wasn't technically an offensive play, but it took only two plays from scrimmage for the Red Raiders to get back in the end zone. Castellanos had a 36-yard completion to Kenny Johnson to set up a 34-yard touchdown run by J'Koby Williams for an early 14-0 lead.

Linebacker John Curry intercepted Mestemaker to continue the Tech defense's momentum against a high-powered offense. The Red Raiders turned the turnover into another score as tight end Terrance Carter Jr. caught his fifth touchdown of the season.

After the interception, Mestemaker was getting his right arm tended to by trainers.

Oklahoma State used a big rush from Caleb Hawkins and a 40-yard field goal to make it a 21-3 score early in the second quarter.

After a pair of punts, the Cowboys got their first turnover as Castellanos sacked and fumbled. On the next offensive play, Mestemaker took advantage of the field position and rushed up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown.

Texas Tech's next offensive series went three-and-out. A third-down incompletion followed a rush that resulted in negative yardage. The Cowboys also benefited from a 15-yard penalty in punt coverage by the Red Raiders.

An offsides penalty by safety Peyton Morgan extended the Cowboys' drive ahead of a 4th-and-1 play. OSU tight end Morgan McPhaul ended the possession with a touchdown as momentum completely swung in favor of the home team.

But the Red Raiders offense was able to punch back. Castellanos rolled right and hit Micah Hudson, who blew past defenders for an 80-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 28-17.

Oklahoma State, which was set to receive the second-half kickoff, attacked the Red Raiders secondary to close the first half. Texas Tech's goal-line defense held up, but the Pokes added a field goal as the second quarter ended.

The Red Raiders went into halftime leading 28-20.

Tech got a stop on fourth down to start the third quarter. Oklahoma State's rush by Ayo Adeyi was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage. Castellanos, who has thrown the most passes of any quarterback in the country over the last two weeks, launched one to Simmons on the next play.

The speedy wideout adjusted to the ball and hauled in a 45-yard touchdown that put the Red Raiders up 35-20.

The Cowboys faced another 4th-and-short, but once again, the Red Raiders got a stop. This time, it was Mestemaker as a ball-carrier outside to the left. He was shaken up after getting tackled.

Despite the strong defense, Tech's offense stalled to begin the second half with Castellanos throwing five straight incompletions at one point.

Texas Tech's big plays carried into the final period. Castellanos put a 30-yard touchdown only where Kenny Johnson could dive and receive it. The score put the Red Raiders ahead 42-20.

Mestemaker's slant pass was broken up, putting the Cowboys 3-15 on third-down conversion and in four-down territory the rest of the way.

Castellanos was crushed near the goal line on a long run. Backup Will Hammond, who started the season as the starter before the veteran transfer took his place, came in to finish the series, which ended with a 54-yard field goal.

Linebacker Ben Roberts, Tech's leading tackler in the game, recorded Mestemaker's second interception with 8:48 to play.

Hammond returned for the offense after Castellanos made his way to the locker room and took off his pads. He remained on the sideline until the final buzzer, appearing to be in good spirits. Reports said he underwent work with trainers on his rib area after the injury.

Williams, who recorded his fifth 100+ yard rushing game of the season and his third straight, had a long run to the goal line that set up a 1-yard touchdown by fellow ball-carrier Cam Dickey.

Oklahoma State's reserves broke up the second-half shutout with a rushing touchdown by William Mason.

Next week, the Red Raiders will travel to Waco to face Baylor (6-4).