College football kicks off with a handful of games tonight, Friday night, Saturday, Sunday (Virginia Tech @ South Carolina & Notre Dame @ Miami), and I even think Monday (TCU @ North Carolina). There will be game day threads for each day. I hope you got your yardwork done last weekend.
On the Pitch
Texas Tech soccer is back in action at home tonight to take on SMU. Texas Tech lost a disappointing game to San Francisco and based on what head coach Tom Stone said, the team was a bit more feisty during practice.
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (3-1-0) vs. SMU (3-1-0)
DATE: Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025
TIME: 7 p.m.
LOCATION: Lubbock, Texas (John Walker Soccer Complex)
WATCH: ESPN+
On the Hardwood
CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter predicts the starting 5 for the top 25 and with Texas Tech at #7, I think this is probably the lineup with some versatility because of Atwell, Mosley and Watts:
G Christian Anderson
G Tyeree Bryan
F LeJuan Watts
F JT Toppin
C Luke Bamgboye
Top reserves: G Donovan Atwell, F Josiah Moseley, G Jaylen Petty
Biggest preseason battle: This is way more about how Grant McCasland wants to play. Does he want to stay big with Toppin, Watts and Bamgboye on the floor together? The rim protection would be nasty with that trio on the floor together. Would he prefer to start with a small-ball look that slides Atwell into the lineup and takes Bamgboye out? The shooting and spacing with that smaller lineup would be deadly. Texas Tech can shape-shift its lineup to counteract anything it sees. It’s why the Red Raiders are a legitimate national championship contender in 2025-26.
On the Gridiron
Texas Tech updated their game notes (PDF) and we have the first availlability report:
OUT FOR THE SEASON
Quinten Joyner So. RB
Dylan Singleton Fr. DL
OUT FOR ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
Ren Brown Fr. OL
Cash Cleveland So. OL
Chief Collins Sr. S
Ellis Davis R-Fr. OL
Holton Hendrix R-Fr. OL
Justin Horne So. LB
Lloyd Jones III Fr. QB
Chapman Lewis Jr. S
Deante Lindsay Fr. CB
Marcus Ramon-Edwards So. S
Macho Stevenson So. CB
DOUBTFUL FOR ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
—
QUESTIONABLE FOR ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
Dontae Balfour Sr. CB
Tarrion Grant So. CB
Will Jados Sr. OL
Chris Lemons So. LB
Braylan McDonald Fr. S
PROBABLE FOR ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
Brice Pollock Jr. CB
Terrell Tilmon Sr. OLB
This seems like a long list of players, but maybe not. I think I counted 20 players on the list.
Texas Tech announced the plans for the tortilla toss, namely that they only want you to do it for opening kickoff with the idea that any further tortillas being launched into the sun will eventually result in penalties and maybe even an ejection.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese has additional clarification from senior associate director of athletics, Robert Giovannetti:
“If the people at the front gate see tortillas, they will confiscate them,” Giovannetti said. “But as a lot of fans say, part of the lore and the tradition and the fun of the tradition of the tortillas is to sneak them in. We’re not gonna pat anybody down or anything like that. If you see them and they’re visible, we will ask you not to bring them in.”
Once inside, Red Raider fans are encouraged to throw tortillas onto the field only after the opening kickoff of games, after which an announcement will be read reminding attendees throwing objects onto the field is prohibited.
CBS Sports’ David Cobb ranks the top 50 quarterbacks with Behren Morton checking in at #27:
Morton’s breakout 2024 season ended with a shoulder surgery that forced him to miss the Red Raiders’ bowl game. But the fifth-year senior has established himself as an upper-tier QB in the Big 12 and has a great crop of receivers to target in 2025.