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Texas Tech overcomes West Virginia in high-scoring affair | Stats, analysis
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- Texas Tech overcomes West Virginia in high-scoring affair | Stats, analysis
The Texas Tech football team held on to take down West Virginia in a high-scoring 53-48 affair on Saturday night inside Galaxy Stadium.
The 15th-ranked Red Raiders saw the Mountaineers score 21 unanswered points to take a seven-point lead, leading to the home crowd booing their favorite team.
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Suddenly the defense awoke when Trey White sacked Michael Hawkins Jr. on back-to-back snaps, one forcing a turnover on downs and another on a safety that put the game away for good.
Thomas Castellanos passed for 362 yards and 5 touchdowns and ran for another 102. J'Koby Williams had 160 yards on the ground and Tech ran for 276 as a team.
Hawkins had 303 passing yards and 88 on the ground, totaling four touchdowns. The Mountaineers put up 582 yards of offense while Texas Tech finished with 638.
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal brought you live coverage of the game. Here's what happened.
Stream Texas Tech football vs. West Virginia on Fubo (free trial)
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Texas Tech football vs. West Virginia live score updates
Safety dance alert in Lubbock
01:16 AM ET, November 8 2026, Nathan Giese
Texas Tech turned it over on downs at the WVU 4. On the first play, Trey White sacks Michael Hawkins Jr. in the end zone for a safety. Red Raiders will pull this one out, it seems.
Trey White sacks Michael Hawkins Jr. on 4th down
01:05 AM ET, November 8 2026, Nathan Giese
The San Diego State transfer comes up with a monster sack to force a turnover on downs and give Texas Tech the ball at the WVU 14-yard line.
Two-minute timeout has arrived
01:00 AM ET, November 8 2026, Nathan Giese
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We've got drama here, folks. Texas Tech leads 51-48 with 2:00 on the clock. West Virginia is facing a 4th-and-10 after a sack by Mateen Ibirogba.
Micah Hudson's 4th-down grab leads to Texas Tech lead
12:54 AM ET, November 8 2026, Nathan Giese
Hudson went up high for the deep conversion on 4th down and Thomas Castellanos hits Kenny Johnson for the go-ahead TD with 2:44 left. Red Raiders lead 51-48.
Texas Tech defense comes through with another stop
12:45 AM ET, November 8 2026, Nathan Giese
West Virginia was forced to punt and now Texas Tech has the ball at its own 31, 6:25 left and trailing 48-44.
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Texas Tech cuts into West Virginia lead
12:42 AM ET, November 8 2026, Nathan Giese
A holding call negated a first-down in the red zone and Texas Tech has to settle for a 46-yard field goal by Stone Harrington. West Virginia holds a 48-44 lead with 7:55 left.
End 3rd: West Virginia 48, Texas Tech 41
12:21 AM ET, November 8 2026, Nathan Giese
The Red Raiders have a 4th-and-9 at their own 26 out of the break.
Texas Tech football crumbling, Mountaineers lead
12:17 AM ET, November 8 2026, Nathan Giese
Make it 21-unanswered points for West Virginia to open up the half and the Mountaineers have taken a 48-41 lead with 1:12 left in the third. Red Raider offense has gained 4 yards in the third.
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West Virginia has erased a two-touchdown deficit, pulling even on a 2-yard TD run by Cam Cook
12:11 AM ET, November 8 2026, Don Williams
WVU ties Texas Tech 41-41 with 3:50 left in the third quarter. The big play on that series was a 75-yard pass reception by Taron Francis down to the Tech 4-yard line.
West Virginia QB Michael Hawkins Jr. scores on the first series of the second half
11:50 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
Hawkins goes 2 yards up the middle, capping a 9-play, 75-yard drive, and the PAT cuts Texas Tech's lead to 41-34 with 11:15 left in the third quarter. Cam Cook carried three times for 34 yards on the drive.
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At halftime, Texas Tech football leads West Virginia 41-27
11:24 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
The two teams have combined for 892 yards of total offense, 494 from the Red Raiders and 398 from the Mountaineers.
Tech QB Thomas Castellanos has passed for 287 yards and 4 touchdowns, the latter tying a career high, and rushed for 78 yards. Tech RB J'Koby Williams has carried 7 times for 118 yards and a touchdown and caught a 43-yard pass.
WVU QB Michael Hawkins Jr. has passed for 183 yards and a touchdown and carried 11 times for 85 yards and a TD. Cam Cook has 95 yards on 15 carries.
Quinten Joyner scores his fourth touchdown of the season, giving Texas Tech its largest lead of the night
11:15 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
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Joyner took a handoff and went straight up the middle for a 1-yard TD, capping a 6-play, 75-yard. A two-point conversion failed, leaving Texas Tech's lead over West Virginia at 41-27 with 1:13 left in the first half. The big play on the series was a 43-yard pass from Thomas Castellanos to Chase Campbell. The freshman from Frenship went up in a crowd and pulled it down at the WVU 36-yard line. A personal foul penalty added another 15 yards.
West Virginia makes it a one-possession game again
11:09 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
Jack Cassidy's second field goal of the game, a 29-yarder, narrows Texas Tech's lead to 35-27 at 2:19 before halftime. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.'s 44-yard scramble to the Tech 27-yard line moved the Mountaineers into range.
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Kenny Johnson catches a 38-yard touchdown pass from Thomas Castellanos to expand Texas Tech's lead
10:50 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
The Tech defense forced its first punt of the night, and the offense takes advantage with a 2-play, 81-yard drive to lead 35-24 at 7:31 until halftime. On the first play of the series, J'Koby Williams took an inside-trap shovel pass for 43 yards. Texas Tech has scored five touchdowns in six possessions. Castellanos has four TD passes, matching his career high set in a September 2024 game for Boston College against Duquesne.
Five possessions, four touchdowns for Texas Tech
10:39 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
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Thomas Castellanos throws a 1-yard TD pass to tight end Jett Carpenter, and the Red Raiders go back on top of West Virginia 28-24 with 9:28 left in the first half. Tight ends Carpenter, Matt Ludwig and Terrance Carter Jr. lined up in a diamond-formation backfield with Carter as the deep back. At the snap, the play flowed left and Castellanos shoveled the ball ahead to Carpenter for the latter's first TD catch of the season.
A coverage bust leads to another West Virginia touchdown
10:33 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
Wide receiver Taron Francis is left wide open behind coverage along the right sideline, takes a Michael Hawkins Jr. throw behind everyone at midfield and has clear sailing to a 73-yard touchdown. It's Francis' first TD catch of the season. The extra point moves West Virginia back in front 24-21 at 13:06 before halftime. The Mountaineers have topped 300 yard total offense.
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Thomas Castellanos and Terrance Carter Jr. have connected for a touchdown pass for the second time tonight.
10:29 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
This one's a 29-yard TD that puts Texas Tech back in front of West Virginia 21-17 at 13:37 in the second quarter. Castellanos fired a strike into a cluster of three, then four players, just in front of the goal line. Carter came back to catch it in front of fellow receiver Kenny Johnson and a Mountaineers defender.
First quarter ends with West Virginia leading Texas Tech 17-14
10:26 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
The Red Raiders gave up only 23 first-quarter points in 14 games last season. Tonight, the Mountaineers have put together drives of 75, 71 and 75 yards, scoring two touchdowns sandwiched around a field goal. They have 226 yards of total offense, divided almost equally between rushing and passing.
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We were right when we said this game is shaping up to be a shootout
10:22 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. caps a 9-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, moving the Mountaineers back in front 17-14 with 58 seconds left in the first quarter. Hawkins went into the game second in the FBS this season with 16 rushing touchdowns, so make it 17.
One of Texas Tech's starting receivers is out of the game, at least for the time being
10:19 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
Coy Eakin has gone to the locker room . No immediate word on the reason or his status.
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J'Koby Williams with a lightning bolt of a touchdown for Texas Tech football
10:17 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
The Red Raiders' scatback bolted 75 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage after the West Virginia field goal. That's the longest career run by the junior from Beckville. The PAT makes it a 14-10 Texas Tech lead with 4:26 left in the first quarter.
Two possessions, two long drives for points for West Virginia
10:15 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
The Mountaineers take a 10-7 lead with Jack Cassidy kicking a 30-yard field goal at 4:39 in the first quarter. It capped a 7-play, 71-yard drive.
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Texas Tech wide receiver Coy Eakin has gone to the locker room
09:55 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
Eakin caught a 22-yard pass two plays before the touchdown on Tech's first series.
Both teams go right down the field on their first possessions
09:48 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
West Virginia answers the Thomas Castellanos-to-Terrance Carter Jr. touchdown with one of its own. Amari Latimer sweeps in on third-and-goal from the 3 and the game is tied at 7. WVU drive was 75 yards in eight plays, and it started with a 32-yard pass from Michael Hawkins Jr. to Prince Strachan.
Terrance Carter Jr. turns a short pass into a 30-yard touchdown to cap the game's first possession
09:42 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
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The Red Raiders went 65 yards in five plays to start the game. Stone Harrington's PAT makes it 7-0 Texas Tech over West Virginia.
West Virginia Mountaineers wearing the traditional WVU look
08:40 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
Rich Rodriguez's Mountaineers are going through pre-game warmup in their blue helmets, white jerseys and old gold pants. Just like Major Harris wore.
Reminder about all the festivities tonight at Galaxy Stadium
08:34 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
It's a big evening for Texas Tech promotions and fan engagement. Among the things to look for:
∎ Drone shows when the teams come out before kickoff and again between the third and fourth quarter.
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∎ Plans to flash the LED lighting system when the teams come out. Tech installed Musco's Total Light Control technology before the 2023 season.
∎ Plenty of fireworks. More opportunity to use them more effectively, given that this is the first home game of the season that'll be unfold entirely after dark. The Red Raiders' past three home games were daytime affairs.
∎ Pre-game on-field recognition of Tech players' family members who are veterans or first responders. Scott Sill, father of Tech offensive lineman Daniel Sill and a former U.S. Army Green Beret, will do the pre-game honor of ringing Bangin' Bertha.
∎ It's a designated blackout game, so most Tech fans filing into the stadium are wearing black.
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Gameday injury report for Texas Tech-West Virginia
08:13 PM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
Here's the official game day availability report for Texas Tech and West Virginia
OUT FOR TEXAS TECH: WR Jalen Jones, WR Malcolm Simmons
OUT FOR WEST VIRGINIA: QB Jyron Hughley, S Jacob Bradford, N/S Emory Snyder, RB Andre Devine, RB Lawrence Autry, DL Darius Wiley
Texas Tech football, West Virginia warming up on the field at Galaxy Stadium
08:09 PM ET, November 7 2026, Don Williams
The 90-minute countdown clock has begun.
Kickoff nearing, kind of
07:02 PM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
We are on site at Galaxy Stadium for tonight's Texas Tech-West Virginia football competition. Only 2-1/2 more hours to go.
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What channel is Texas Tech football vs. West Virginia on in Week 10?
05:00 PM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
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TV Channel:ESPN
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Livestream:Fubo ( free trial )
Texas Tech vs. West Virginia will air nationally on ESPN in Week 10 of the 2026 college football season. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Injury report for Texas Tech football
04:00 PM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
The Thursday night availability report for Texas Tech shows receivers Jalen Jones and Malcolm Simmons both being ruled out for tonight's game. An updated availability report will be released closer to game time.
Score prediction for Texas Tech football vs. West Virginia
03:00 PM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
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Here's how we see tonight's game going , with the focus being on both teams' rushing attacks.
Was Rich Rod almost Texas Tech football's coach?
02:00 PM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
Yes, and now the West Virginia coach is returning to Lubbock. More on that story.
West Virginia game personal for Texas Tech football's Kenny Johnson
12:00 PM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
Texas Tech needs to keep winning to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive. This game is more personal for Kenny Johnson. Read about it here .
What's Texas Tech getting paid for stadium naming rights?
11:00 AM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
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Contract details of Galaxy Stadium's naming rights to the Texas Tech football stadium have been released. Here's what Tech is making.
Texas Tech football vs. West Virginia time for Week 10
10:01 AM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
Stream Texas Tech football vs. West Virginia on Fubo (free trial)
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Date:Saturday, Nov. 7
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Start time:8:30 p.m. CT
The Texas Tech vs West Virginia game starts at 8:30 p.m. CT from Galaxy Stadium.
Latest Texas Tech football news
09:01 AM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
Texas Tech football 2026 schedule
08:01 AM ET, November 7 2026, Nathan Giese
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Sept. 5: def. Abilene Christian, 33-10
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Sept. 12: def. Oregon State 35-24
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Sept. 18: def. Houston 28-26
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Sept. 26: def. Sam Houston 49-14
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Oct. 3: def. Colorado 29-7
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Oct. 17: def. Arizona State 53-25
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Oct. 24: lost 37-24 to Cincinnati
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Oct. 31: def. Arizona 34-26
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Nov. 7: West Virginia, 8:30 p.m.
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Nov. 14: at Oklahoma State, TBD
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Nov. 21: at Baylor, TBD
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Nov. 26: TCU, 7 p.m., ESPN
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech overcomes West Virginia in high-scoring affair | Stats, analysis
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