Texas Tech holds off Oregon State: Red Raiders' fourth quarter rally spoils Beavers' upset bid

Texas Tech turned over many pieces on offense, but the offensive line was meant to be the most consistent part of the unit. Instead, the group has struggled to assert itself against two non-power opponents. 

Oregon State sacked quarterback Will Hammond four times and limited the Red Raiders to 3.4 yards per carry. Top returning rusher Cam Dickey was held to 2.2 yards per carry as Texas Tech tries to work out its running back rotation. Hammond has been solid, but too much of his work has been done in the intermediate level of the field. Texas Tech needs to take the top off the defense. 

In two games against Oregon State and Abilene Christian, Texas Tech averaged 34.0 points per game. In three nonconference matchups last year, the Red Raiders exploded for 58.0 points per game. With Houston on the horizon this Friday, there won't be much time to spare. 

Texas Tech's run to the Big 12 title and College Football Playoff was defined by elite defensive line play, especially behind No. 2 overall pick David Bailey. Through two games, the Red Raiders' new unit has looked nothing of the sort. 

The Red Raiders recorded only one sack against Oregon State despite playing an offense that threw the ball on two-thirds of snaps. Last season, the Red Raiders recorded three sacks against the Beavers and posted 41 sacks on the season. 

There's still a chance that the highly-rated transfers take a step forward, but early returns have not been good enough. 

JaMarcus Shepherd is a wide receivers coach by trade, and he just might have found a transcendent talent in the bargain bin. Jesse Legree was ranked the No. 118 athlete in the Class of 2026, and his only high-major offer came from Pittsburgh. Two games into his career, though, Legree looks like a legitimate All-America contender. 

Legree posted 220 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches for the Beavers in a monstrous performance. He consistently found gaps and openings in the Texas Tech secondary, and has built a special relationship with quarterback Braden Atkinson. Over his first two games against Big 12 foes, Legree has 13 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns. 

FINAL: Texas Tech 35, Oregon State 24

No. 13 Texas Tech survived a late upset bid from Oregon State to escape Corvallis with a 35-24 victory. The Red Raiders needed a go-ahead touchdown pass from Will Hammond to Coy Eakin in the fourth quarter to finally create breathing room. 

Oregon State got a massive performance from freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree to nearly pull off a massive upset. The Baltimore native caught eight passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns as he and quarterback Braden Atkinson developed an electric connection. 

After a fumble from Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond, Oregon State kicked a goal-ahead field goal. But then, Hammond orchestrated a touchdown drive capped off with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Coy Eakin. In the final seconds, backup Tommy Castellanos added a surprising passing score on an expected rushing down to ice the game. 

Atkinson had his second straight strong game, throwing for 399 yards and two touchdowns. Texas Tech running back J'Koby Williams finally got going in the second half, finishing with 116 yards and a 38-yard rushing score. In his first road start as the starting quarterback, Hammond threw for 189 yards and a touchdown. 

Oregon State wide receiver Jesse Legree brought down an incredible catch on fourth down, but was pushed out of bounds by the Texas Tech defense for a turnover on downs. The Red Raiders have the ball with four minutes remaining to try and ice the game. 

4Q: Texas Tech 28, Oregon State 24

One drive after losing a fumble to set up a go-ahead field goal, Will Hammond stepped up to deliver a major drive for the Red Raiders. Hammond stepped back and delivered a 32-yard touchdown pass to Coy Eakin over the top of a defensive back to wrest the lead back for Texas Tech. We're in for a photo finish in Corvallis. 

4Q: Oregon State 24, Texas 21

Oregon State can't get anything going offensively after the turnover, but the Beavers kick a field goal to take their first lead of the game. Texas Tech's Will Hammond is facing the biggest moment of his young career. 

End 3Q: Texas Tech 21, Oregon State 21

No. 13 Texas Tech is caught in a battle with Oregon State as the game is tied 21-21 heading to the fourth quarter in Corvallis, Oregon. Beavers freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree has exposed the Red Raiders' secondary, exploding for seven catches for 228 yards and two touchdowns in his second career game. 

The Red Raiders got off to a sluggish start and struggled to run the ball against an aggressive Beavers attack. After Texas Tech scored its first points, quarterback Braden Atkinson came back with a 75-yard touchdown bomb to Legree. Legree struck again on a critical fourth down, notching a 37-yard touchdown reception to tie the game. 

The rush issues have persisted for Texas Tech, barely clearing 3.0 yards per carry despite a 38-yard rushing score from J'Koby Williams. The Red Raiders have posted only one sack against Atkinson and haven't gotten enough pressure. 

Oregon State gets the ball back with a chance to take the lead after recording three straight negative plays to end the third quarter. The Beavers forced a fumble and will get the ball in great field position. 

3Q: Texas Tech 21, Oregon State 21

Oregon State wide receiver Jesse Legree has been absolutely unstoppable, and is exposing the Red Raiders' defense. Legree has seven catches for 228 yards and just connected on his second touchdown, a 37-yard strike from Braden Atkinson on fourth down. 

Legree is a true freshman from Baltimore, listed at 5-foot-10 and 172 pounds. However, coach JaMarcus Shepherd is a wide receivers coach by trade. Over two career games against Big 12 opponents, Legree is up to 12 catches for 364 yards and three touchdowns... and counting! 

3Q: Texas Tech 21, Oregon State 13

Texas Tech has struggled to get chunk plays against an aggressive Oregon State defense, but the Red Raiders are slowly starting to create some chances. Will Hammond found Kenny Johnson for a 17-yard pass and another 14-yarder to Coy Eakin. Then, J'Koby Williams broke off a gamebreaking 38-yard touchdown scamper, cutting it upfield to beat the defense. 

Prior to the play, Texas Tech had only 65 yards on 27 carries. The running game was billed as one of the strengths of the team, and that just hasn't come through consistently enough. 

3Q: Texas Tech 14, Oregon State 13

Oregon State pulled out their bag of tricks to help set up Braden Atkinson for a four-yard touchdown reception on a passback. Atkinson was excellent again on the drive, hitting Jesse Legree for a 41-yard bomb behind the Texas Tech defense. The Beavers have also used their passing game to find chances in the running game. 

Oregon State whiffed on the extra point, leaving them with a one-point deficit. 

HALF: Texas Tech 14, Oregon State 7

No. 13 Texas Tech leads Oregon State 14-7 after a messy first half in Corvallis, Oregon. The Red Raiders used a physically dominant 11-play touchdown drive late in the half -- eight of which were runs -- to retake the lead. 

In his first road start as the full-time starter, Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond completed 14-of-18 passes for 109 yards in the first half. The Red Raiders also got a dose of gadget backup Tommy Castellanos, who came off the bench to rush for a seven-yard touchdown. 

However, it's been an inconsistent day for the Red Raiders overall as they were outgained 205-163 in the period. Even with Hammond's success, Texas Tech averaged only 2.5 yards per carry against an aggressive Beavers defense. 

Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson played a strong game, throwing for 183 yards. He connected with Jesse Legree for 128 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown for the Beavers' only points of the game. However, their struggles running the ball -- 11 carries for 22 yards -- have made things difficult. 

Oregon State was driving down the field once again and having some success, but cornerback Amier Boyd stepped up to the moment. Boyd jumped a route and picked off Braden Atkinson for the first turnover of the game. The Red Raiders will now have just under two minutes to drive down the field to extend their lead. 

Late 2Q: Texas Tech 14, Oregon State 7

Texas Tech saw an opportunity to take control of the game back late in the first half, and a physical touchdown drive got it done. The Red Raiders went on an 11-play, 73-yard touchdown drive capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from Cam Dickey. 

The Red Raiders ran the ball eight times in 11 plays to try and assert their will, including their first real chunk play from Quinten Joyner. Quarterback Will Hammond has been efficient, but the Red Raiders need to lean on the running game to put things away. 

2Q: Texas Tech 7, Oregon State 7

One play after Texas Tech scored its first touchdown, Braden Atkinson dropped in a massive 75-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Legree as he was flatted by a Red Raiders defender. Atkinson has been threatening all day, but he finally hit one over the top. 

2Q: Texas Tech 7, Oregon State 0

Texas Tech added quarterback Tommy Castellanos late in the cycle after he received a waiver, and the former ACC starter is already making an impact. The Red Raiders brought Castellanos in as a change-of-pace backup, using him primraily as a runner. He broke off a seven-yard touchdown run to get the Red Raiders on the board first. 

Texas Tech has struggled to run the ball against an aggressive Oregon State defense, but Red Raiders quarterback Will Hammond is finding his rhythm. Hammond has completed 9-of-12 passes for 75 yards to help lead a run into the red zone. 

End 1Q: Texas Tech 0, Oregon State 0

Oregon State is off to a hot start against Texas Tech's highly-ranked defense after one quarter. Quarterback Braden Atkinson has thrown for 71 yards as both Beavers drives went for at least eight plays. However, a 54-yard missed field goal looms large as the Red Raiders get the ball back to start the second quarter. 

Texas Tech has struggled to get push against the Beavers, limiting themselves to six yards on five carries between Cameron Dickey and Quinten Joyner. Quarterback Will Hammond has 36 yards in his fourth career start, including an 18-yard connection with Micah Hudson. 

Texas Tech gets the ball approaching midfield to start the second quarter. 

Oregon State and Texas Tech were both forced to punt after one drive, and the story early has been both teams' inability to run. Oregon State rushed for -4 yards on their first two carries, while Texas Tech's Cameron Dickey and Quinten Joyner combined for six yards on five carries. The quarterbacks have played well early, but with rain starting to come down, not having consistency in the running game could make this an ugly game. 

Texas Tech won the toss and opted to defer, which sets up Oregon State with a chance for first blood. The Beavers got a poor return and will have the length of the field to go. 

Texas Tech needed a tune-up game to get ready for primetime, but the Red Raiders will come out motivated on the road. The defensive line will cause issues for breakout Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson, and Texas Tech's offense will lean heavily on its run game. It will be a late cover, but a cover nonetheless. Pick: Texas Tech -26.5

Oregon State returned quarterback Maalik Murphy, but took a swing on Jerry Rice Award winner Braden Atkinson from Mercer. The North Carolina native led the Bears to a Southern Conference championship last season, helping coach Mike Jacobs to earn the Toledo job. 

In his first start with the Beavers, Atkinson was unbelievable. The sophomore threw for 376 yards and a touchdown as the Cougars nearly upset No. 23 Houston. Freshman Jesse Legree caught five passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. Texas Tech is strong in the secondary, but Atkinson presents a unique challenge. 

Most of Texas Tech's top-ranked defense graduated to the NFL last season, including No. 2 overall draft pick David Bailey. Their debut against Abilene Christian was solid, but behind the dominance of their early season slate last year. 

Kent State edge rusher transfer Jamond Mathis impressed with 2.5 sacks against the Wildcats, but no one else on the team registered a sack. Highly-rated transfers Adam Trick and Mateen Ibirogba didn't record any disruptive stats. They'll play a major role containing Atkinson and the passing offense.