Texas Tech’s season needed a jolt. It found one in an unlikely place

Texas Tech found an offensive spark.

The Red Raiders also found the ability to overcome a double-digit deficit.

Because of those traits, and because of the suddenly new eligibility ruling that cleared quarterback Tommy Castellanos, Texas Tech has new life -- to potentially repeat as Big 12 champions and perhaps earn a second consecutive College Football Playoff bid.

Down 17-7 in the first half, the No. 14 Red Raiders rallied for an 34-26 win against No. 21 Arizona in a pivotal showdown ripe with implications for a berth in the Big 12 title game.

Texas Tech plays neither No. 5 Utah nor No. 9 Brigham Young in the regular season; this was one its last, best chance to notch a quality league win and remain positioned for a return-trip to the league's title bout in Texas in early December. The Red Raiders still must visit Oklahoma State.

The win marked Tech's 13th consecutive home win.

Granted eligibility through the courts that was confirmed this week, Castellanos -- the former Central Florida, Boston College and Florida State quarterback -- helmed the Red Raiders' offense in his most extensive action in the 2026 season after seeing spot duty in four games.

Owning more than 2,000 career snaps before arriving this summer at Texas Tech, Castellanos threw 24 of the 25 passes attempted by Texas Tech.

He finished with 144 passing yards and two touchdown. Highlight his dual-threat capacity, Castellanos also rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown.

With the win, Texas Tech remained just a half-game behind undefeated Utah in the Big 12 standings. Later Saturday, the Utes face Cincinnati, which last week knocked off Texas Tech.

The Red Raiders' response to victory came in a week in which high-profile mega-booster Cody Campbell, a former Tech football player, had called out the team's performance in its 37-24 loss last week to the Bearcats.

Tech trailed in that game by three touchdowns. It trailed by 10 on Saturday before a field goal late in the second quarter and 75-yard yard drive for a score to start the second half tied things up. The Red Raiders went ahead for good when Castellanos hit for Kenny Johns for a 27-yard score and sealed the game on a J'Koby Williams 64-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left.

The remaining schedule is mostly clear for the Red Raiders. They host West Virginia on Nov. 7 before a road game at upstart Oklahoma State on Nov. 14.

Tech closes its season with a pair of games inside the Lone Star State. The Red Raiders have a short road-trip to Baylor, which just fired Dave Aranda, on Nov. 21 before a Thanksgiving Day game against TCU at home on Senior Day, Nov. 26.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas Tech’s season needed a jolt. It found one in an unlikely place