Texas Tech’s Thomas Castellanos rolls out looking to pass against Arizona during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Galaxy Stadium.

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Castellanos — who has played for UCF, Boston College, Florida State and Texas Tech — made his 34th-career start on Saturday. Castellanos, a five-for-five, player recently became eligible to play this season following a court ruling in Kentucky, while Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi and linebacker Max Harris remain ineligible for their case against the NCAA in Pima County Superior Court. 

Castellanos’ dual-threat skillset gave the Red Raiders a different dimension on offense — speed-option runs and quarterback counters. Castellanos had 19 carries for 117 yards on Saturday. 

“We knew coming in he was going to run and we knew it was going to be a running game, so we gotta make the adjustments and be better in that area,” said Arizona slot cornerback Malcolm Hartzog. “He’s a good player, they had a good scheme for this game. We just gotta be better.” 

Castellanos converted a fourth-and-2 on a 7-yard run on Texas Tech’s opening drive. Three plays later, Castellanos threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Terrance Carter Jr. to the left side of the end zone. 

Castellanos converted another fourth-and-2 in the third quarter, but with his arm, a 27-yard touchdown to wide receiver Kenny Johnson on broken coverage by cornerback Dwight Bootle II, who started for the injured Jay’Vion Cole. The touchdown gave Texas Tech a 24-23 lead in the third quarter. 

Castellanos was “really effective” on Saturday, said Brennan. 

“All the plus-one quarterback stuff, his ability to stay alive and keep scrambles alive and make plays alive down the field, hats off to him,” Brennan added. “He played his butt off today. He’s a great player.” 

After Arizona took a 23-17 lead following a goal-line touchdown run by running back Kedrick Reescano, kicker Michael Salgado-Medina’s PAT was blocked, because “there was a little bit of penetration in the A-gap and I’m not sure the trajectory of the kick is where it needed to be,” Brennan said.