No. 13 Texas Tech survived a chaotic fourth-quarter scare to secure a 53-48 victory over West Virginia, keeping their pursuit of a second consecutive Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth alive. Thomas Castellanos delivered a career-high performance, throwing five touchdown passes, including the decisive strike to Kenny Johnson with 2:44 remaining. The Red Raiders (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) overcame a seven-point deficit in the final frame after holding a 14-point lead at halftime, showcasing resilience in a game that stretched into the early hours of Sunday morning.
Red Raiders rally from fourth-quarter deficit in 1,220-yard Big 12 offensive explosion
The matchup featured an old-school offensive slugfest, with the teams combining for a staggering 1,220 yards of total offense, 894 of which came before the break. Despite the high volume of scoring, the game’s turning point was defensive. With seven minutes left, Texas Tech stuffed West Virginia quarterback Cam Cook on third-and-1, forcing coach Rich Rodriguez to punt. The Red Raiders capitalized immediately, driving 69 yards in nine plays to take the lead. Key contributions included a 26-yard fourth-down conversion by Micah Hudson, which kept the decisive drive alive.
This win solidifies Texas Tech’s position at No. 15 in the CFP rankings, maintaining their trajectory toward a conference championship. While West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins Jr. put up impressive numbers, the Mountaineers’ inability to convert on critical downs in the fourth quarter proved fatal. The result underscores the Red Raiders’ ability to close out high-stakes games, as they now look to maintain their momentum in the final stretch of the regular season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
