Texas Tech walked out of Corvallis with a 35-24 win over Oregon State, and that alone matters. For a program that has spent too many past September road trips turning “should win” games into messes, surviving a fight like that counts for something.
That’s the larger picture after week two of the 2026 season: the Red Raiders still haven’t matched the preseason buzz they built for themselves, but they also avoided one of those ugly road losses that can linger for months. There was a time not long ago when trips like this ended badly - Wyoming in 2023, Washington State the next year, even the old New Mexico stumble in 2004 - and Tech fans know exactly how quickly those games can slip away.
This time, Joey McGuire’s team found a way to close it out. And inside that win, there were a few developments worth paying attention to.
The biggest one? Texas Tech cleaned up its red-zone problems.
After the week-one win over ACU, the conversation centered on Tech going just 2 for 5 on touchdown chances inside the 20. That was a glaring issue for a team that was already one of the nation’s worst red-zone offenses in 2025.
Against Oregon State, the Red Raiders didn’t leave that door open. They scored touchdowns on all three red-zone trips, including the final one that put the game away in the last two minutes.
Tommy Castellanos was a big part of that shift. The backup, who joined Tech in late August, gave the offense a different look near the goal line.
He ran for a touchdown on Tech’s first red-zone possession, then threw the game-clinching score to Matt Ludwig in the fourth quarter. That kind of dual-threat presence changes what defenses have to account for when the field shrinks.
J'Koby Williams also kept showing why he’s becoming the offense’s most dependable piece.
The running back piled up 116 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, and he added two catches for 16 yards. More than the raw numbers, it’s the way he’s producing them.
Texas Tech’s line isn’t creating much room, which has made life tougher for backs like Cam Dickey and Quinten Joyner. Williams, though, keeps turning crowded backfields into productive plays.
His 38-yard touchdown run was the perfect example. The right side of the line got pushed backward, but Williams slipped around the traffic, found daylight and took it to the end zone. He’s now averaged at least 5.5 yards per carry in both games this season, and right now he’s the one giving this ground game any real burst.
The defense had issues overall, but the linebackers backed up the preseason talk.
Ben Roberts, Austin Romaine and John Curry were all around the ball all night, combining for 26 tackles and a sack. Roberts led the group and the team with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops, and he accounted for one of Tech’s two sacks.
Romaine finished with nine tackles, four of them solo, though he did leave late in the fourth quarter while favoring his arm after a tackle. Curry, the Lubbock native, added seven tackles and ranked fourth on the team in stops.
That’s not enough to call the whole performance clean. But it is enough to say Tech left Corvallis with more than just a win. The Red Raiders also found signs that a few of their biggest questions may already be getting answers.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Suddenly Has A Friday Night Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Texas Techs first official injury report for its Big 12 matchup with Houston landed late in the week, and it gave fans an immediate reason to keep an eye on Friday night. Cornerback Amier Boyd is out, while wide receiver Kenny Johnson, tight end Terrance Carter Jr., safety Brenden Jordan and edge rusher Trey White all showed up as questionable, a mix that touches both the Red Raiders depth and some of the spots where they can least afford surprises.
The biggest name to watch is White, whom head coach Joey McGuire described as a game-time decision. For a Texas Tech team trying to settle in before kickoff, the uncertainty across multiple position groups adds a little extra tension to an already important conference game, and it leaves the Red Raiders waiting on a few final answers before they know exactly what theyll have available against Houston. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech's Shakiest Defensive Issue Gets Tested Again Friday
Texas Techs secondary comes into Friday night with a fresh reminder of how quickly a coverage issue can turn into a problem. The Red Raiders were exposed at times against Oregon State, and freshman receiver Jessee Legree found room to make them pay. Now Houston brings another test in top target Amare Thomas, giving Texas Tech a chance to show whether the lessons from last week stuck.
There is some help on the way, which matters for a defense trying to steady itself before league play tightens the margins even more. Starting safety Brenden Jordan is back from suspension, and the Red Raiders may also get pass rusher Trey White back from injury, both of which could ease some pressure on the back end. Even so, the bigger question Friday is whether Texas Techs secondary can look more connected when the Cougars start feeding their best receiver. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Heads Into Friday With One Offensive Concern Still Lingering
Texas Tech spent the week getting ready for its Big 12 matchup with Houston, and offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich sounded encouraged by what he has seen from quarterback Wills efficiency and overall direction. Leftwich said the position is moving the right way and expressed confidence that the improvement will keep coming as the Red Raiders settle into conference play.
The bigger concern remains on the ground, where the running game has been too inconsistent to fully trust. Leftwich pointed to execution details and said the fixes have to come from the offensive line and the rest of the unit doing their jobs cleaner and more consistently. With Houston up next, Texas Tech can feel good about the passing-game trajectory, but the run game still carries the kind of lingering issue that can shape a Saturday. [Read more 🡒]