House Settlement

CBS Sports’ John Talty on the big video call with all of the big commissioners. This is a good summary and I don’t know that I have a ton to add.

Texas Tech announced how they were reacting to the House Settlement and of all the things that have been happening, I know for sure that it seems as if Texas Tech is at the front of the line in terms of being a couple of steps ahead. The biggest move is that the Matador Club will merge with the Red Raider Club:

By integrating the Matador Club under its banner, the Red Raider Club will lead the effort to provide annual funding for revenue sharing, student-athlete scholarships and a comprehensive range of programs that elevate the student-athlete experience – both on and off the field. This transformation represents a commitment to adapt, to lead and to invest in championship-caliber programs and student-athletes.

“As we transition to a new model, know that we are ready,” Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. “Over the past year, we have studied various impacts of the House settlement on our department and have been ready for this new era in college athletics. Texas Tech will continue to be a leader nationally in this era. Our donors and supporters will have the ability to impact our success like never before, but it will take all of us. Gifts to the Red Raider Club – both small and large – help provide opportunities to the best prospective student-athletes and provide the necessary resources to build championship rosters like we are experiencing right now with many of our programs.”

As part of the NCAA House settlement finalized this past Friday, Texas Tech is now permitted to share up to $20.5 million of its departmental-generated revenue directly with student-athletes beginning in the 2025–26 academic year. To support this transformational change, the Red Raider Club will be responsible for generating $14 million annually to help fund Texas Tech Athletics’ new revenue-sharing model. This funding will also support student-athlete scholarships, academic resources, professional development, leadership programming, nutritional offerings and more. The remaining portion of the revenue-sharing commitment will be supported by University investment and additional athletics-generated revenue streams.

On the Hardwood

A blast from the past. ESPN’s Leonard Solms on how former Texas Tech Red Raider Joel Ntambwe as he looks to play in the Basketball Africa League (remember that Ntambwe is brothers with Jonathan Kuminga):

Ntambwe, who played his college ball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, told ESPN: “It was a really great opportunity presented to me by my agent. I’ve had the desire to play in the BAL since the first BAL started.

“Amadou [Gallo Fall], the president, asked me to come and play, but at that time, I think I wasn’t ready… Having my little brother who plays in the NBA, we’ve met several times. That’s how we built that relationship between him and us.

“I decided to come this year because I felt like it was a great opportunity and it’s actually a very big stage to showcase my career and showcase my talents.

“I was battling with a lot of injuries and stuff like that. That’s what a lot of people don’t know. When I got to the G League [with the Sioux Falls Skyforce], I got a back injury and I had to do rehab. After that, I got picked up by Delaware [Blue Coats].

“Thank God, we made it all the way to the finals… Right now, my body is actually feeling the best that it’s ever felt before.”

On the Diamond

Maryland 1B Hollis Porter (6-4/220) has transferred to Texas Tech and had previous stops at Mississippi State where he did not play and had a redshirt year and Pearl River C.C. as a redshirt freshman where he hit the snot out of the ball before transferring to Maryland for his redshirt sophomore season.

BREAKING: Maryland 1B Hollis Porter has committed to Texas Tech in the transfer portal. Porter slashed .303/.365/.632 with 13 2B, 21 HR, and 64 RBI for the Terps this year—some insane juice from the left side. pic.twitter.com/ho45vLibCf

— On The Clock | College Baseball and MLB Draft (@OnTheClock_1) June 9, 2025

On the Gridiron

CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford with the 25 most dynamic players the past 25 years and Michael Crabtree makes the list at #16:

Maybe the best player to ever star for the late Mike Leach, Crabtree’s 2007 season was freakish — 134 receptions for 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns as a freshman. He followed that up with another All-American performance, finishing with 97 catches for 1,165 yards and 19 scores for the Red Raiders.

CBS Sports’ Carter Bahns on the 12 teams creating the most buzz:

There is a new player in the NIL arms race as Texas Tech ramped up its spending across all sports, and nowhere was that more evident than in the football program. Seemingly out of nowhere, the Red Raiders built the nation’s second-ranked transfer portal class with 13 blue-chip additions — the most of any team in the country. The Big 12 is as wide open as any conference, and Joey McGuire’s squad is well-positioned to take advantage of the logjam and emerge as the league’s top College Football Playoff contender on the heels of its splashy offseason. (+400)