Lots of links today and not a lot of time for me.
On the Gridiron
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams on Behren Morton at Big 12 Media Days:
“If anything comes through like that,” he said, “I’m not really interested. It’s my last year at Texas Tech. I’ve been here for five years. This is my home, and I want to make Texas Tech a championship-winning team. I want us to be in the conversation of the elite of the elite — the Alabamas, the Georgias. We have the talent now.”
Morton threw for career highs of 2,976 yards and 25 touchdowns last year.
There’s a market for more than quarterbacks. Wide receiver Caleb Douglas told the number of overtures Morton related, said reach-outs to him to transfer had been “about the same. It happens a lot.” More during his two years at Florida or in his year-plus at Texas Tech? “Since I’ve been here for sure,” Douglas said.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams on Deion Sanders praising Joey McGuire’s spending spree:
“Yeah, Joey got some money,” Sanders said boisterously from a stage at The Star. “Joey, where you at, baby? Spending that money! I love it. I love it. Once upon a time, you guys (media) were talking junk about me going in that portal. Now when everybody’s going in the portal, it’s OK. It’s cool when they do it. There’s a problem when I do it. Ain’t that a rap song?”
On3’s Pete Nakos on Cody Campbell establishing a non-profit, Saving College Sports:
The Saving College Sports organization has a three-prong approach, according to its website. That includes committing to legal and regulatory certainty and consistency, comprehensive governance reform and college sports maximizing their economic pie.
Campbell’s Matador Club has been at the forefront of NIL since it was launched in February 2022. In July 2022, the NIL collective announced it had signed 100 Red Raider football players to a one-year $25,000 NIL contract. Texas Tech spent over $10 million in the transfer portal this offseason, too.
The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel on commit OT Felix Ojo and his deal as well as the question of what about these programs that are jealous of what Texas Tech is doing:
Seeing a non-blue blood program like Texas Tech make splash after splash in recruiting is wild. It’s invested heavily in facilities and NIL, to be sure, but it’s interesting that it’s still beating the big-name programs for some blue-chip prospects. Am I wrong in thinking the powers-that-be are going to do everything they can to stamp this out? Feels like a showdown between Texas Tech and Deloitte is on the horizon. — Houston
As I wrote a few weeks ago, people in college athletics have earnestly convinced themselves that the House settlement is going to “level the playing field.” In fact, it’s the exact opposite.
If the CSC/Deloitte succeeds in eliminating pay-for-play booster deals and the only thing schools can offer is that $20.5 million in rev-share, good luck to the Texas Techs of the world ever beating the likes of Texas or Ohio State again. Sure, you might beat one of them out for a specific kid, like Ojo, if you’re willing to devote more of your rev-share budget than they are. But that’s just going to leave you with less for guys further down your roster, who, if the dollars are comparable, are probably going to pick the blue blood over the upstart nine times out of 10.
Again, this is why Texas Tech fascinates me. I think it’s safe to say no billionaire booster has ever spent more on talent acquisition than Cody Campbell. Indeed, Phil Knight (Oregon) and Boone Pickens (Oklahoma State) helped their programs gain relevance before him, but most of their money was spent on buildings. Those do help attract recruits, but not as much as cold, hard cash.
I realize this isn’t true across all sports, but so far in the NIL era, football has not been a strictly “rich get richer” proposition. In some cases, like Texas Tech, it’s been the rich lifting their favorite school out of poverty. But I realize many of you find the whole thing icky. If the new model holds up, we can all go back to the more innocent days of recruits picking their schools based on coaching relationships, academics, development, secretly paid-for unofficial visits, McDonald’s bags and a hush-hush job and/or apartment for mom or dad.
ESPN’s Dan Wetzel and I’ll just post the title to the article and let you go read, “All of college football ought to cheer for Texas Tech”
ESPN on one thing that could be a concern for every top 25 team:
Area of concern: Defense
Does the defensive makeover actually work? The Red Raiders’ D can’t get much worse than what it was in 2024, and that’s not hyperbole. Texas Tech finished 126th in total defense in 2024. The secondary was 132nd in passing yards per game. Shiel Wood takes over as defensive coordinator, and there have been tons of portal additions to this side of the ball. Players such as Stanford linebacker David Bailey and Georgia Tech end Romello Height stand out, along with five transfer defensive backs. There’s really only one way for this group to go, and it’s up. — Lyles Jr.
On the Hardwood
Texas Tech’s Wes Bloomquist with his Q&A with Washington State transfer LeJuan Watts:
“I push myself and my teammates to be the best.”
📰: https://t.co/6AXV3gPbMT pic.twitter.com/pzq5bUQcON
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) July 7, 2025
What do you bring to the team on and off the court?
“The IQ of the game. I feel like I’ve gained a lot of experience in college basketball over the past couple of years. I have a knowledge of how to play the game the right way and have the drive to keep getting better.”
What do you want to get most out of summer workouts?
“Gaining a comfortability around everyone and becoming a team. Getting to know what everyone is good at and how we can help each other get even better. When we get back from break is going to be really important with defensive concepts and continuing to build for the season.”