Big 12 Athlete of the Year Nominees

Texas Tech announced their 2025-26 Big 12 Athlete of the Year Nominees and they are football’s Jacob Rodriguez and softball’s NiJaree Canady. The winner for Big 12 Athlete of the Year is announced today.

On the Diamond

Texas Tech baseball will participate in the 2027 Round Rock Classic with Alabama, Louisiana Tech, and Texas State at the end of February.

On the Hardwood

Texas Tech basketball with a Q&A with newcomer Damarion Dennis:

What do you bring to the team on and off the court?
“I can control the game with my pace. Off the court, I can help build chemistry. I take pride in guarding the other team’s best player. I feel like I’ve been an underdog my whole life. That’s where my hunger comes from.”

What do you want to develop the most in your game?
“I want to develop as a point guard. Get my assist numbers up. I want to be aggressive.”

On the Gridiron

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams opines that the naming rights deal between Texas Tech and Galaxy was about helping with paying off the debt that Texas Tech athletics faces:

On the Tech athletics annual operating budget, the category of athletics facilities debt service and rental fees went from $12.2 million in fiscal year 2024 to $16.8 million in fiscal 2025. That’s $16.8 million going to pay off debt rather than invest into that year’s athletics programs. Last summer, Tech athletics budgeted $32.2 million in facilities debt service on the operating budget for fiscal 2026, which is still ongoing.

/snip/

In the meantime, it’s inaccurate to allege, as some have, that Tech has sold its history and done so out of greed. It’s doing so out of need. To decline $75 million under the current circumstances would be fiscally irresponsible.

I have not listened to this, maybe I’ll have time at work today (probably not). The Solid Verbal preview of the Big 12.