Texas Tech's struggling offense got a much-needed boost with the emergence of quarterback Thomas Castellanos. In his first start for the Red Raiders, Castellanos threw two touchdown passes and ran for 117 yards, leading his team to a 34-26 win over No. 22 Arizona. The win keeps Texas Tech's Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff hopes alive. Castellanos, who started 33 games in his previous college stints at UCF, Boston College, and Florida State, showed his experience and confidence on the field. He completed 11 of 24 passes, but averaged 15.3 air yards per attempt, a significant improvement over his predecessor Will Hammond's 8.4 average. Castellanos' legs also opened up running lanes for running back J'Koby Williams, who added 14 carries for 175 yards, including a career-long 64-yard touchdown. The Red Raiders' 332 total rushing yards were the second-most in the last 100 years, and Castellanos and Williams became the first pair of Texas Tech teammates to each top 110 yards in the same game in school history. Coach Joey McGuire praised Castellanos' performance, saying he 'gave us juice' and played with confidence. McGuire also acknowledged that Castellanos' experience was a big lift for the team. While Castellanos acknowledged he was still rusty, he expressed his desire to continue working with his teammates to improve their chemistry and timing. The win has given Texas Tech a much-needed boost, with their chances of returning to the College Football Playoff increasing from 10% to 46% according to ESPN's Allstate Playoff Predictor.