Kind of a short morning for me. Fitsum has to be at the school for a cross-country meet at 4:40 a.m. as the bus leaves at 5:00 a.m. so I don’t have as much time as normal.

On the Pitch

Texas Tech soccer kicks off today in Denver for an exhibition match against Denver University.

On the Court

I missed some Lady Raider content the other day.

Get to know Lady Raider newcomer, @AdleeBlacklock! #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/8aVRDsNerq

— Lady Raider Basketball (@LadyRaiderWBB) August 7, 2024

It’s the simplicity of the game 🤌#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/JvG3zptxr2

— Lady Raider Basketball (@LadyRaiderWBB) August 5, 2024

On the Gridiron

Some videos!

Summary

Behren Morton discusses his positive experience at Camp PX, full recovery from his shoulder injury, and the depth of new offensive weapons.

Highlights
🎉 Morton enjoys Camp PX, stating it’s his favorite so far.
💪 His shoulder is 100% healed, allowing full participation in practices.
🏈 The team has a strong depth of offensive talent, making games challenging for defenses.
🛡️ The offensive line’s performance has improved, allowing for better play execution.
📚 Morton emphasizes the importance of studying the complex playbook daily.
⚡ The three-on, one-off practice schedule aids recovery and mental preparation.
🏃‍♂️ Morton highlights the defensive backs’ skill in disguising plays, keeping him on his toes.
Key Insights
🌟 Morton feels empowered as the starting quarterback, enjoying the control over the offense, which can lead to stronger game performance.
🧠 His injury recovery showcases resilience and dedication, setting a positive example for teammates.
🔥 The depth of new offensive weapons suggests a versatile and unpredictable offense, increasing the team’s competitive edge.
🤝 His mentorship of younger players, particularly Micah, reflects strong leadership qualities and a team-first mentality.
⏳ The focus on studying the playbook illustrates the high demands of the team’s offensive strategy, requiring constant adaptation.
💪 The recovery-focused practice schedule promotes player well-being, which can enhance long-term performance throughout the season.
🕵️‍♂️ The defensive backs’ improvement indicates a well-coached squad, which could lead to intense training sessions and better overall gameplay.

Athlon Sports with Big 12 quarterback rankings and Behren Morton checks in at No. 9:

9. Behren Morton, Texas Tech
Morton hasn’t quite lived up to his four-star billing coming out of high school, but the Texas native is coming off career numbers (1,757 passing yards and 15 touchdowns) and appears to be 100 percent after dealing with shoulder problems in the ’23 season. Over 21 games in Lubbock, Morton has passed for 2,874 yards and 22 scores and chipped in six rushing touchdowns. Morton needs to be more cautious with the ball (14 picks in 465 attempts) and will be working behind a revamped offensive line and receiving corps in ’24.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly writes about the national football scene and thinks that the SEC and Big Ten are better football conferences, but the Big 12 will be the most fun and I agree. If you are feeling a bit down about finding joy in sports, I’d tell you to just follow the Big 12 and watch those games and it’s likely to be a really fun ride:

The top four teams in the Big Ten, for instance, had a combined 91.8% chance of winning the conference title, leaving the other 14 programs to share just 8.2%. The top four in the Big 12? Just 68.9%. In fact, the top eight projected teams in the Big 12 had lower combined title odds (91.3%) than the Big Ten’s top four, and because of a good amount of dead weight in the Big Ten, the Big 12’s projected average SP+ rating (5.6) was closer to the Big Ten’s (9.9) than the Big Ten’s was to the SEC’s (16.1).

The top eight Big 12 teams are all projected within 20 spots of each other. The top-ranked team, per SP+, is No. 17 Kansas State, followed closely by No. 18 Utah, No. 20 Oklahoma State and No. 24 Arizona. No. 30 Iowa State, No. 34 West Virginia, No. 36 TCU and No. 37 Kansas are not too far behind, and hell, No. 42 Texas Tech and No. 48 UCF are only a couple of surprises away from contention too. This all says nothing of 2021 conference champion Baylor, 2021 CFP participant Cincinnati or 2024’s ultimate wild card, Colorado.

This is something we don’t usually see in major college football. Historically, major conferences have had a selection of bluebloods that dominate more often than not: Oklahoma and Texas in the Big 12 (just like Oklahoma and Nebraska in the Big 8), Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten, Alabama and Georgia recently in the SEC, Florida State and Clemson currently in the ACC, and so on.

The new Big 12 has no established hierarchy. In the last six seasons alone, 13 of 16 current Big 12 teams have finished ranked in the AP poll at least once, but only three teams have done it more than twice. Utah and Oklahoma State have each done it three times in that span, and the only team to do it more than that (Cincinnati, four times) also plummeted to 3-9 last year.