On the Hardwood
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Stephen Garcia has the contract details for Lady Raider head coach Krista Gerlich (there’s more details there):
The base salary is $300,000 per year, with additional income from rights fees. Tech will retain the rights to Gerlich for opportunities such as merchandise deals. Gerlich will make $425,000 from those fees, which will increase by $25,000 each year of the contract.
On the Gridiron
I had no time to do any sort of non-transcript, but special teams coach Kenny Perry spoke to the media yesterday (video below). Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams summarizes that presser, including the idea of having a kickoff specialist for kicker Stone Harrington:
“I’m hoping to try to take some pressure off of him on kickoffs,” Perry said, “just because at the end of the year he kind of got worn down, so I’m hoping that Jacob can kick off and take a little pressure off of him. We’ll see. That’s my plan.”
Red Raider Sports’ Jarrett Ramirez has summarizes that presser.
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Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams on athletic director Kirby Hocutt pushing more third-party NIL deals and a new collective. This is a big article and no way I can really summarize. There’s a lot of weeds and details here (I mean this in a good way, conversations with Hocutt, Cody Campbell and Joey McGuire), including how much Texas Tech frontloaded deals and how that’s changing.
CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford on the best case and worst case for the top 25 (I’ll let you click over for the best case):
Worst-case scenario: 9-3, 6-3. If Sorsby busts, this team could torpedo quickly unless backup Will Hammond delivers. Despite weapons returning in the backfield and on the outside, everything is centered around Sorsby delivering with precision and being this squad’s unquestioned — and handsomely paid — leader. There’s potential trouble during conference play as well if defensive personnel changes sputter.
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach has Texas Tech at No. 8 in his preseason Top 25:
Key players lost: DE David Bailey, NT Lee Hunter, DE Romello Height, LB Jacob Rodriguez, LB Bryce Ramirez, QB Behren Morton
Key additions: QB Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), WR Donte Lee Jr. (Liberty), WR Kenny Johnson (Pitt), WR Malcolm Simmons (Auburn), DL Mateen Ibirogba (Wake Forest), DE Trey White (San Diego State), DE Adam Trick (Miami, Ohio), LB Austin Romaine (Kansas State), OLB LaDamion Guyton (high school)
2026 outlook: After their offense fell flat in the CFP, the Red Raiders spent big to upgrade that side of the ball. Sorsby was one of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal and is a true dual threat. Running backs Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams are returning, and the Red Raiders grabbed a trio of speedy receivers out of the portal. The losses on defense are enormous, starting with Bailey, Hunter and Height up front. Ibirogba was ESPN’s No. 1-rated interior defensive lineman in the portal, and White and Trick were highly ranked on the edge. The Red Raiders will be counting on Romaine to fill in for the irreplaceable Rodriguez.