They say that the backup quarterback is usually the most popular player on a team. While that might not be true for Texas Tech in 2026, fans are still excited to see what dynamic Florida State transfer Tommy Castellanos can bring to the field.
Though the fifth-year senior has been with the program for less than two weeks after receiving a court injunction granting his eligibility, it appears that he is ready to make his debut tonight against Abilene Christian in Lubbock. That's something the fan base will enjoy seeing given Castellanos' reputation as a dynamic playmaker.
According to On3's Pete Nakos, Castellanos will be available to play in the opener after completing the necessary number of practices needed to be ready for action. What's more, Nakos reports that the NCAA tried to gain emergency relief from Castellanos' injunction, but that courtroom maneuver was unsuccessful, thus clearing the way for the newest Red Raider to play right away.
QB/WR Thomas Castellanos will be available for Texas Tech's season opener Saturday after completing the required acclimation practices, sources tell @On3.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) September 4, 2026
The NCAA was denied emergency relief in the case earlier today.https://t.co/5LWspGyxy6 https://t.co/y6HTuJUeno pic.twitter.com/YiaJ5JBcS4
What Texas Tech fans should expect from Castellanos in week one
In the opener, Texas Tech won't ask too much of Castellanos. In fact, he might see only a handful of snaps given that he was listed as the No. 4 QB on the team's first depth chart.
Of course, he is only that low because he is so new to the program. As soon as he has a working grasp of the playbook, he will rise to the No. 2 spot behind Will Hammond.
A player with 32 career starts at the FBS level, Castellanos will be an invaluable weapon for the Red Raiders, even as a backup. Head coach Joey McGuire has already said that he plans to put Castellanos on the field each week, and many believe that the dual-threat QB will have an impact on the offense, especially in the red zone, where his ability to carry the ball and make defenders miss could be exactly what the offense needs after struggling to score TDs inside the 20 a season ago.
Unless something goes terribly wrong tonight, Castellanos likely won't be asked to play meaningful snaps. Rather, Tech will probably just use this glorified scrimmage as an opportunity to get him some game reps as he acclimates to life as a Red Raider. Still, Texas Tech fans will be excited to see another explosive weapon on the field for their team in the season's first game.
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