No. 12 Texas Tech Routs Oklahoma State 52-27 to Move to 9-1 in Big 12 Race

No. 12 Texas Tech beat No. 25 Oklahoma State 52-27 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater on Saturday, November 14, 2026, scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half to improve to 9-1 and stay on course for the Big 12 championship game and the College Football Playoff. The Red Raiders led 21-0 after the first quarter and 28-20 at half-time, then shut out the Cowboys after the break in cold, rainy conditions.

Key Points

• Texas Tech beat Oklahoma State 52-27 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, improving to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12.
• Thomas Castellanos threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns before leaving in the fourth quarter with an apparent rib injury after a big hit; Will Hammond finished the game.
• Malcolm Simmons, back from injury, scored on both of his touches — a 97-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown and a 45-yard touchdown reception.
• J'Koby Williams rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, and Terrance Carter Jr., Micah Hudson and Kenny Johnson also caught touchdown passes.
• Drew Mestemaker threw for 277 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for Oklahoma State, ending his eight-game run of 300-yard passing games, and also rushed for a score.

What Happened

Texas Tech needed less than a minute to set the tone. Simmons, returning from injury, took the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, and the Red Raiders never looked back. By the end of the first quarter they led 21-0, with Castellanos already in rhythm and the Oklahoma State defence on its heels in the rain.

Oklahoma State refused to fold. The Cowboys answered with a 17-0 run, cutting the gap to 28-20 by half-time. Mestemaker, who had passed for more than 300 yards in eight straight games, kept the Cowboys moving, and his rushing touchdown kept the pressure on Texas Tech going into the break.

The second half belonged entirely to the Red Raiders. Texas Tech outscored Oklahoma State 24-0 after the break, shutting out the Cowboys over the final two quarters. Castellanos added to his four-touchdown day before leaving in the fourth quarter with an apparent rib injury, and backup Will Hammond finished the game.

Background and Context

Texas Tech arrived in Stillwater at 8-1, a week after outlasting West Virginia 53-48 in Lubbock, when Castellanos threw five touchdowns. That win kept the Red Raiders firmly in the Big 12 title race, and a road trip to a ranked Oklahoma State side was the next test. Related coverage: Texas Tech Outlasts West Virginia 53-48 as Castellanos Throws Five Touchdowns.

Oklahoma State came in at 6-3 after routing Kansas State 66-28 the previous week, when Mestemaker accounted for six touchdowns. A home win over the No. 12 team in the country would have shaken up the conference race. Instead, the second-half shutout left the Cowboys at 6-4 and 4-3 in the league, with their title hopes badly dented. Also read: Oklahoma State Routs Kansas State 66-28 as Mestemaker Scores Six Touchdowns.

Texas Tech Beats Oklahoma State 52-27: Castellanos, Simmons and a Second-Half Shutout

Castellanos was the engine of the win. The quarterback threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns, spreading the ball to Simmons, Carter, Hudson and Johnson, before the rib injury ended his day early in the fourth quarter. His departure is the one worry to come out of the win, and Texas Tech will be hoping the injury is not serious.

Simmons produced the game's most spectacular moments. Back from injury, he needed only two touches to score twice: the 97-yard kickoff return that opened the scoring and a 45-yard touchdown catch. Williams added the ground game, running for 124 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

For Oklahoma State, Mestemaker finished 27 of 42 for 277 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and he also ran for a score. But the streak that had defined his season — eight straight games over 300 passing yards — came to an end, and the Cowboys managed nothing after half-time.

Reactions

The result landed as a statement win for Texas Tech. A 25-point road victory over a ranked conference rival, built on a 24-0 second half in miserable weather, is the kind of performance that keeps a team in the playoff conversation. The Red Raiders did it with big plays on special teams, balance on offence and a defence that allowed nothing after the break.

Why It Matters

The win matters most for what it keeps alive. At 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12, Texas Tech stays on track for a return to the Big 12 championship game and remains firmly in the College Football Playoff picture. A road loss in Stillwater would have dropped the Red Raiders to 6-2 in the league and left them needing help; instead, they control their own path. Related coverage: BYU Beats Baylor 28-7 as Bear Bachmeier Scores Four Touchdowns in Provo.

It also matters because of how Texas Tech won. The Red Raiders scored in every phase — a kickoff return, four touchdown passes and a rushing score — and then shut out a ranked opponent for an entire half. For Oklahoma State, the loss drops the Cowboys to 6-4 and 4-3, and the Big 12 title race now runs through Lubbock rather than Stillwater.

What Happens Next

Texas Tech travels to Baylor next Saturday, another road test in the Big 12 run-in. The biggest question before that game is Castellanos and his ribs: the quarterback left in the fourth quarter after a big hit, and his availability will shape how the Red Raiders prepare for the trip to Waco.

Oklahoma State, meanwhile, must regroup quickly after a second half in which it scored nothing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Texas Tech vs Oklahoma State?
Texas Tech beat Oklahoma State 52-27 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. Texas Tech led 21-0 after the first quarter and 28-20 at half-time, then outscored Oklahoma State 24-0 in the second half.

How many touchdowns did Thomas Castellanos throw?
Thomas Castellanos threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns before leaving in the fourth quarter with an apparent rib injury after a big hit. Backup Will Hammond finished the game for Texas Tech.

What did Malcolm Simmons do in the game?
Malcolm Simmons, back from injury, scored on both of his touches: a 97-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown and a 45-yard touchdown reception.

What were Drew Mestemaker's stats for Oklahoma State?
Drew Mestemaker finished 27 of 42 for 277 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and he also rushed for a touchdown. His run of eight straight 300-yard passing games came to an end.

What are the teams' records after the game, and who does Texas Tech play next?
Texas Tech improved to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12, while Oklahoma State fell to 6-4 and 4-3 in conference play. Texas Tech travels to Baylor next Saturday.