Texas Tech confirmed on Friday, October 2, 2026, that quarterback Thomas Castellanos would not be eligible to play at Colorado on Saturday. The change followed a Kentucky Court of Appeals panel’s dissolution of the temporary injunction that had allowed him and other athletes from the high-school Class of 2022 to compete in 2026–27. The lawsuit itself was still pending as of October 3.
Why was Thomas Castellanos ruled ineligible again?
The injunction had provided temporary legal protection for Castellanos to play. When the Kentucky Court of Appeals dissolved it, that protection no longer supported his participation, and Texas Tech confirmed he was unavailable for the Colorado game. FOX 34 Lubbock reported Texas Tech’s confirmation; Yahoo Sports covered the appellate ruling.
“Ruled ineligible again” describes the immediate playing-status change, not a final decision that Castellanos has no eligibility under any circumstances. Dissolving an injunction removes interim protection; it does not, by itself, decide the underlying lawsuit on its merits. The available reports do not establish the appellate panel’s detailed reasoning, so no specific rationale should be attributed to the court.
What does the ruling mean for Texas Tech?
For the Colorado game on October 3, the answer was clear: Castellanos could not play. The ruling removed the legal basis on which he had been allowed to compete, and Texas Tech confirmed his unavailability. That game-specific status does not establish what his status would be for every later game; the litigation was continuing.
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Texas Tech announced Castellanos’s arrival on August 29 and said he would compete for the backup quarterback role behind Will Hammond. The team’s announcement and roster entry reflected its plan and his listed status before the appellate action, not a current guarantee that he could play. Texas Tech’s announcement described his expected role.
What is still pending in the eligibility case?
On3’s Red Raider Sports reported that Jefferson Circuit Court had scheduled a hearing for Friday, October 9, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in Room 11 in Wells, Levavium II et al. v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. That was a reported future hearing as of October 3, not a result or confirmation that Castellanos would be cleared to play afterward. Read On3’s report on the scheduled hearing.
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Castellanos’s attorney, Ryan Downton, argued in a statement to On3, reproduced by USA TODAY Sports via Yahoo Sports: “As long as he did not have any professionalism issues, they should certify him as eligible under the NCAA Manual as it exists today. And play him.” That is the attorney’s position, not a court finding or independent confirmation from the NCAA.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who is Castellanos, and what are his career numbers?
Before joining Texas Tech, Castellanos played for UCF in 2022, Boston College in 2023–24, and Florida State in 2025. Texas Tech’s 2026 roster lists his prior-career totals as 6,449 passing yards, 48 passing touchdowns, 1,984 rushing yards, and 24 rushing touchdowns. These figures are career totals across those earlier college stops, not production solely at Texas Tech. Texas Tech Athletics’ roster also lists him as a fifth-year player who arrived with one season of eligibility remaining before the latest court action.
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FOX 34 reported that Castellanos made his Red Raider debut on September 12 and had four total touchdowns in three appearances at the time of its October 2 report. That is a dated in-season snapshot, not a season-end total.
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