Texas Tech expected to start Thomas Castellanos at QB vs. Arizona

Texas Tech is expected to start Thomas Castellanos at quarterback on Saturday against Arizona, the school confirmed to On3’s Pete Nakos. The expectation was he would see an increase in snaps during the Week 9 matchup. Texas Tech is looking to bounce back from last week’s loss to Cincinnati, its first of the season, as Arizona comes to Lubbock on Saturday. Will Hammond got the start in that matchup, going 24-of-37 for 227 yards, along with an interception. $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage Throughout the week, there was a sense Castellanos would see the field more against Arizona, On3 reported. Now, he is in line to get the start for Texas Tech in a key Big 12 matchup on Saturday afternoon. Castellanos gained eligibility via a court order earlier this year, but that came into question after the Kentucky Court of Appeals dissolved the temporary restraining order. However, a judge granted a new temporary injunction last week, paving the way for Castellanos to return to the field. Watch on Fubo (Try for Free) In five games at Texas Tech this year, Castellanos has completed 3-of-5 passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns, along with an interception. He has also been involved in the run game with 15 carries for 65 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. After the loss to Cincinnati, Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire took ownership for what he called a “total failure” by not putting Castellanos in the game. He also cited the former Florida State quarterback’s presence in the red zone, which has helped the Red Raiders offense in those situations. “If you go back to Oregon State game, the Houston game in the red zone, that was our most effective games,” McGuire said. “That was a lot of quarterback run game, adding him in the mix.” Castellanos began his college career in 2022 at UCF before spending two years at Boston College from 2023-24. In 2025, he transferred to Florida State, where he threw for 2,760 yards and 15 touchdowns, to nine interceptions. In light of the NCAA’s age-based, five-year eligibility model, Thomas Castellanos filed an eligibility lawsuit seeking a fifth year. After the judge’s order, he then signed at Texas Tech as the Red Raiders looked to add quarterback depth for this season.