LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech linebacker Austin Romaine returned two interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive passes thrown by different Sam Houston quarterbacks after some pregame encouragement from coach Joey McGuire.
Romaine, the senior transfer from Kansas State, became the first FBS player in 13 years with such quick pick-6s. They came seven seconds apart in the opening minute of the second quarter in the No. 11 Red Raiders' 49-14 win over the Bearkats on Saturday.
“Coach McGuire sent me a message just saying cut it loose and play free,” Romaine said. “And I just did a lot less thinking this game.”
The Red Raiders led only 7-0 before fellow linebacker Brock Gowlas leaped to deflect a pass thrown by Brett Holloway. Romaine, who had also jumped, then grabbed the ball out of the air and ran 15 yards for a touchdown with 14:54 left in the first half.
On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Bearcats starting quarterback Landyn Locke was back in the game, and his pass on first down was picked off by Romaine. That 31-yard return made it 21-0.
Navy’s Dashaun Peele returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Charlotte in 2024, but Romaine is the first FBS player with pick-6s on consecutive throws since 2013.
DeVon Edwards returned two interceptions for scores on consecutive throws late in Duke's 38-20 win over North Carolina State on Nov. 9, 2013. Edwards also had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in that game.
Romaine had 184 tackles (110 solo) the past three seasons with the Wildcats. His only interception for K-State came in a game against Texas Tech last season when he had a cast on his left hand.
After winning their first Big 12 championship and going to the College Football Playoff last season, Tech had six defensive players taken in the NFL draft. That included All-America linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
McGuire, who felt that Romaine had been pressing, sent him a couple of texts and then spoke to him before the game.
“I said, ‘Man, I don’t need Jacob Rodriguez. He’s not coming back. I need Austin Romaine. There’s a reason we brought you here. Go out and be Austin Romaine, go be that guy,’” McGuire said. “And he showed up today, I thought he played free.”
When Gowlas batted the ball straight up in the air, Romaine went up and got it. On the next play, the Bearkats put a receiver in a motion while Romaine stayed where he was supposed to be on that play.
"I was in disbelief that I did it twice in a row,” Romaine said. “I just saw that slant coming across, and the ball was right there.”
The last time the Red Raiders had two pick-6s in the same game was when Kevin Curtis and Antwan Alexander both had one in a 58-0 win over Oklahoma State on Nov. 11, 2000. Romaine is the first Tech player with two in the same game.
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