LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech linebacker Austin Romaine became the first FBS player in 13 years to return two interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive throws in a 49-14 victory over Sam Houston.
The No. 11 Red Raiders led only 7-0 in the second quarter before fellow linebacker Brock Golwas 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, only seven seconds after his first pick-six.
"I was in disbelief that I did it twice in a row," Romaine said. "It was crazy."
Romaine said some pregame advice from coach Joey McGuire fueled him.
"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."
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 (former All-American) 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."
Romaine is the first FBS player with pick-sixes on consecutive throws since 2013, when Duke's DeVon Edwards returned two interceptions for scores on consecutive throws against NC State. Edwards also had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in that game.
He's the first Big 12 player ever to do it.
Texas Tech became the first Big 12 team with interception returns for touchdowns on consecutive defensive drives since Nebraska did it vs. Idaho in September 2010, per ESPN Research. The Red Raiders last had two INT returns for TDs in a game in the 2000 season.
Romaine, a senior transfer from Kansas State, became the fifth player in Big 12 history to have multiple interceptions returned for touchdowns in a single game and the first to do so since Bobby Walker did it for KSU in 2002, when he had two in a three-game span.
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.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.