5 Thoughts from Texas Tech Win: Red Raiders 2-0, But Not in a Clean Way

Texas Tech hung on to defeat Oregon State 35-24 in a soggy outing where the Beavers' strong pass game had them in front in the fourth quarter.

The No. 13-ranked Red Raiders, despite scraping together a win to move to 2-0, enter their Big 12 opener next Friday against No. 22 Houston with just as many questions as answers.

We run down five key points from Texas Tech's second less-convincing-than-expected win to open the 2026 season.

RECAP:Texas Tech Escapes Late Scare at Oregon State in Week 2

1 - Offense still lagging behind expectations

The apparent hesitancy to open up the offensive playbook in the season-opening win over Abilene Christian irked Red Raider Nation, and many of the same criticisms of the game plan were in play throughout Saturday in the program's first-ever trip to Corvallis.

Quarterback Will Hammond was steady with 20 completions on 27 attempts and 189 yards. Running back J'Koby Williams wasn't fully introduced into the scheme until near the midway point of the game, but ended with a game-high 116 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Tech's offensive line was much less reliable in this one, and the offense was also missing tight end Terrance Carter Jr., who was a late scratch as he wore a boot on his foot during pregame warmups.

In a game where the Red Raiders were favored by nearly four touchdowns, the seemingly complacent nature of easing into the offensive playbook - now in back-to-back games to open the season - leaves a lot to be desired, and that problem could be a strike more on the coaching staff than Hammond's decision-making.

2 - Jesse Legree exposes Tech's slim secondary

Oregon State's freshman receiver Jesse Legree torched Texas Tech to the tune of 240 receiving yards on a game-high eight catches, twice finding the end zone.

Legree made a habit of capitalizing on gaping soft spots in the Red Raiders' secondary, a unit that was playing without starting safety Brenden Jordan, who served the second of his two-game suspension due to a team rules violation.

Legree had help with Aeryn Hampton (4 receptions, 50 yards) and Aaron Butler (2 receptions, 27 yards), also averaging over 10 yards per reception for a Beavers offense that outgained Tech 472 yards to 352, and 403-197 in passing.

3 - Castellanos package needs fine-tuning

Florida State transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos saw his most action as a Red Raider through two games, appearing as early as the opening period as a wildcat, run-first quarterback.

He ended as one of three Tech rushers to record a touchdown on the ground, but as the game wore on the "Castellanos package" became predictable for an Oregon State defensive line that was holding it's own and sacked Hammond several times.

However, it was Castellanos' arm that put the final blow into the Beavers' upset bid. He split out to the right and found tight end Matt Ludwig in the back of the end zone in the final minutes to extend Tech's lead to double digits.

Too many times, Castellanos' appearances were nothing more than a direct snap and sprint to the outside. Maybe this success on his first time throwing the ball inspires some creativity in his usage moving forward (and I don't mean like when he and Hammond were slot receivers while Cameron Dickey took the snap and Superman dove into the end zone).

With conference games approaching and opposing teams now with more game film to study, there should be opportunities for Tech to begin spicing up the schemes involving Castellanos. His growing familiarity with the playbook and his teammates will help in that regard, too.

4 - More mental miscues plague would-be opportunities

Texas Tech committed two inexcusable unsportsmanlike penalties. The team surrendered 70 yards on seven penalties in total, and sloppiness throughout in ball security and special teams were notable struggles that helped the the underdogs stick around.

Pre-snap flags weren't an issue, but there were multiple holdings and miscommunications in the defensive backfield that could have been avoided. The slippery conditions also could have been a factor.

Dickey fumbled the opening carry but recovered. Hammond coughed one up in the second half, but it resulted in a turnover. On special teams, Tech was forced into a timeout to avoid another too-many-men flag in punt formation, like was the case once last week.

When receiving punts, Kenny Johnson - though he was dynamic when the ball was in his hands - muffed one before he could take off.

Things can be much, much cleaner all around.

5 - You take a non-conference road win any way it comes

This was Texas Tech's first non-conference road win since 2017, and with several factors playing into a potential outcome where that losing trend could have continued on Saturday, the team is happy to leave the Pacific Northwest still undefeated.

Tech's last non-conference road win came at Houston. The Cougars are now conference foes and will travel to Lubbock to face the Red Raiders on short rest next week.

Texas Tech debuts its black-out, Patrick Mahomes-designed Gladiator uniforms on Sep. 18 at Galaxy Stadium, with kickoff against UH slated for 7 p.m. CT.

NCAA Wins Another Stay, Texas Tech's Stillwell Now IneligibleIn another piece of a growing offseason puzzle, Texas Tech transfer forward Jamichael Stillwell has be deemed ineligible after the NCAA won a stay on injunctions granted in Georgia.