No. 13 Texas Tech survived its first road test of the 2026 season, pulling away from Oregon State for a 35-24 victory Saturday at Reser Stadium.

It wasn’t nearly as comfortable as the final score suggests.

MORE: No. 13 Texas Tech Escapes Late Scare at Oregon State with 35-24 Win

Oregon State repeatedly stressed the Red Raiders through the air, but Texas Tech answered with a balanced offense, timely stops and a fourth-quarter surge that turned a tight game into a convincing win.

Will Hammond completed 20 of 27 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown as Texas Tech improved to 2-0.

The Red Raiders also leaned heavily on the ground game, finishing with 155 rushing yards on 46 attempts.

J’Koby Williams delivered the biggest rushing performance, carrying 20 times for 116 yards and a touchdown. His 38-yard scoring run in the third quarter gave Texas Tech a 21-13 lead after Oregon State had opened the second half with a touchdown.

The Beavers refused to go away.

Quarterback Braden Atkinson threw for 399 yards and two touchdowns, while Jesse Legree produced a monster night with eight catches for 240 yards and two scores.

Their 75-yard touchdown connection in the second quarter erased Texas Tech’s first lead in just 10 seconds, and they connected again from 37 yards in the third.

Oregon State actually grabbed a 24-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.

That’s when Texas Tech finally took control.

Hammond hit Caleb Eakin for a 32-yard touchdown with 6:37 remaining, putting the Red Raiders back in front. Eakin finished with six catches for 79 yards and the score.

Texas Tech continued applying pressure from there, eventually turning a three-point deficit into a 22-point victory.

The numbers show why the game was uncomfortable for Joey McGuire’s team. Oregon State finished with 472 total yards compared with Texas Tech’s 352 and threw for more than 400 yards as a team.

But the Red Raiders won in the areas that mattered late.

Texas Tech converted 8 of 16 third downs, went 1-for-1 on fourth down and committed just one turnover. Oregon State was only 4 of 15 on third down and 1 of 3 on fourth down.

For Texas Tech, this wasn’t a flawless road performance.

It may have been something more useful.

MORE: 5 Texas Tech Storylines in Red Raiders' Road Test at Oregon State

The Red Raiders absorbed Oregon State’s best punches, responded when they fell behind in the fourth quarter and finished the game decisively.

At 2-0, Texas Tech heads home with its perfect record intact and evidence that this team can win even when everything doesn’t go according to plan.

Source: Yahoo Sports