Texas Tech to Split Quarterback Snaps as Court Keeps Thomas Castellanos Eligible

Overview

• A Kentucky court order continues to preserve Thomas Castellanos’s eligibility after judges left an Oct. 16 preliminary injunction in place despite the NCAA’s 5-for-5 rule challenge.
• Texas Tech will divide snaps between Castellanos and starter Will Hammond for the upcoming game against Arizona as a tactical response to uneven offense.
• Will Hammond has struggled this season with six touchdown passes and six interceptions, prompting coaches to seek alternatives in game planning.
• Castellanos is a fifth-season transfer who has been used mainly in red-zone packages and has four total touchdowns this year along with a key interception earlier in the season.
• Coaches face risk with a two-quarterback split because those systems rarely work, and the team’s postseason hopes hinge on winning the Big 12 while the eligibility litigation remains active and could be appealed.