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Castellanos Throws Four Touchdowns as No. 12 Texas Tech Pulls Away From No. 25 Oklahoma State 52-27

Thomas Castellanos threw four touchdown passes and Malcolm Simmons returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score as No. 12 Texas Tech beat No. 25 Oklahoma State 52-27 in Stillwater.

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2026

We Speak Media

Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker warms up before the game against Texas Tech in Stillwater, Nov. 14, 2026

Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) warms up before the game against Texas Tech on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Photo by Mitch Alcala, AP Photo.

Thomas Castellanos threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns as No. 12 Texas Tech pulled away in the second half to beat No. 25 Oklahoma State 52-27 on Saturday night in Stillwater.

Texas Tech scored on the game’s first play, a 97-yard opening kickoff return by Malcolm Simmons, and built a 21-0 first-quarter lead on a 34-yard touchdown run by J’Koby Williams and an 8-yard Castellanos touchdown pass to Terrance Carter Jr.

Oklahoma State rallied behind Drew Mestemaker, whose 13-yard touchdown run and 18-yard touchdown pass to Morgan McPhaul cut the lead to 21-17. Castellanos answered with an 80-yard touchdown strike to Micah Hudson before halftime, and the Red Raiders led 28-20 at the break.

The second half was all Texas Tech. Castellanos threw touchdown passes of 45 yards to Simmons and 30 yards to Kenny Johnson, Stone Harrington added a 54-yard field goal and Cameron Dickey scored on a 2-yard run as the Red Raiders ran off 24 unanswered points to make it 52-20. Wyatt Mason’s 10-yard touchdown run with 54 seconds left finished the scoring.

Williams ran for 124 yards and a touchdown, passing 1,000 rushing yards for the season. Castellanos has thrown four touchdown passes in consecutive games. Ben Roberts led the Texas Tech defense with 13 tackles and an interception.

Mestemaker threw for 277 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for Oklahoma State (6-4, 4-3 Big 12), snapping his eight-game streak of 300-yard passing games, and Caleb Hawkins ran for 91 yards. The Cowboys outgained Texas Tech 465-442 but could not overcome the early hole. Texas Tech (9-1, 6-1) controls its own path to the Big 12 Championship Game.

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We Speak College Football

Benedict Rallies From 24 Points Down to Beat Kentucky State 52-45 in Overtime and Win the SIAC Championship

Published

40 minutes ago

November 15, 2026

KJ Butler

A Benedict receiver in a purple jersey leaps high above a Kentucky State defender to catch the football during the SIAC Championship game.

A Benedict receiver climbs above a Kentucky State defender to pull down a catch during the Tigers' 52-45 overtime win over Kentucky State in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.

Benedict College is a champion again. The Tigers came back from 24 points down on Saturday in Columbia, beating Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime to win the SIAC Championship, the third conference title in program history, and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs came with it.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — November 14, 2026

What started as a competitive conference championship matchup turned into an unforgettable day at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, as Benedict College delivered a remarkable comeback to defeat Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime, capturing its third conference football championship in program history.

With the SIAC Championship on the line, both teams came out ready to compete. The opening quarter featured an evenly matched battle, with both offenses finding opportunities while the defenses worked to establish control. Benedict struck first, taking a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.

Kentucky State Takes Over

However, the momentum quickly shifted in favor of Kentucky State.

The Thorobreds delivered a dominant second quarter, outscoring Benedict 17-0 before continuing their offensive surge in the third. Kentucky State eventually built a 24-point lead after putting together 31 unanswered points, leaving the Tigers with a mountain to climb.

The Comeback

But Benedict wasn’t ready to surrender its championship hopes.

Benedict's quarterback in a purple No. 3 jersey leaps over a diving Kentucky State defender while carrying the football. — *Benedict’s quarterback hurdles a diving Kentucky State tackler as the Tigers rally in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Tigers found another gear in the fourth quarter, putting together a furious comeback and scoring 24 points in the final period to pull even at 45-45. After trailing by as many as 24 points, Benedict had turned what appeared to be a comfortable Kentucky State victory into a championship thriller.

A Wild Final Minute

The final minute of regulation brought even more drama.

With approximately one minute remaining, Kentucky State punted the ball to Benedict, but the Tigers muffed the return, giving the Thorobreds another opportunity to steal the game. Kentucky State moved into position to score, but Benedict’s defense came up with a crucial stop, keeping the Thorobreds out of the end zone.

Benedict's No. 13 in a purple jersey leaps to catch the football with two Kentucky State defenders closing in and fans behind the sideline wall. — *Benedict’s No. 13 pulls down a catch between two Kentucky State defenders during the championship game. Photo by KJ Butler.*

With Kentucky State out of timeouts, clock management became critical. A delay-of-game penalty with nine seconds remaining resulted in a 10-second runoff, sending the game into overtime. The sequence proved costly for the Thorobreds, as a late-game miscommunication and clock-management mishap ended their opportunity to attempt a field goal before regulation expired.

Overtime Decides It

One more possession would determine the championship.

In overtime, Benedict wasted little time making its opportunity count. Quarterback Glenn Foreman connected with Demetris McKelvey on a touchdown pass, giving the Tigers the advantage and putting the pressure squarely on Kentucky State.

Two Benedict defenders collide with a Kentucky State ball carrier in the end zone, knocking the carrier's helmet into the air, with the Benedict band in the background. — *Benedict’s defense delivers a hit that knocks a Kentucky State helmet loose in the end zone during the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Thorobreds were unable to match the score, and Benedict’s sideline erupted in celebration.

After overcoming a 24-point deficit, surviving a dramatic final minute, and finishing the job in overtime, the Tigers walked away with a 52-45 victory and their third conference football championship in program history.

At Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, fans witnessed a comeback that will forever be remembered.

What Is Next

Benedict’s season rolls on into the NCAA Division II playoffs. The SIAC championship carries the conference’s automatic bid, and the Tigers entered the weekend as the No. 1 team in Super Region Two. Benedict learns its first-round opponent at the NCAA Division II selection show on Sunday, November 15 at 6 p.m. ET, with first-round games set for Saturday, November 21.

Kentucky State’s season is not finished either. The Thorobreds close at 8-3 after their first SIAC title game appearance since 2016, and they are expected to land an at-large playoff berth when the bracket is revealed on Sunday night. If their name is called, their first-round game is also Saturday, November 21.