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The Ringer’s Katie Baker writes about the death of Google Search. This probably isn’t important to any one of you, but for me, this gradual transition by Google from search to whatever they are now has made my job as a blogger that much more difficult. At one time I could filter and use the search function to find stories and articles that no one else had found. I truly prided myself on being able to find things.

Now, when I search for things, particularly news, the search results are riddled with fake news sites, or sites that simply are aggregating news from other sites. I’d also add that I often find results from Texas Tech SI, which I can’t imagine that there’s an actual person writing about Texas Tech. There are also these sites that look like news sites, like the Lufkin Daily News or 13newsnow that are aggregating stories from some other sources. And even then, they aren’t writing anything original, they are simply skimming off of other websites and not writing anything news or original.

It’s just aggregators without attributing to the original source. Look to the right and every single article that was created are creations of other people, like Phil Steele, or J.D. Pickell, or CBS. The only original article is the number of blue-chip prospects, which sounds incredibly boring (to me).

And then there are certain websites that don’t show up in Google search at all, like The Athletic. Just isn’t there in a Google search and maybe they’ve just decided to completely opt out (which I’m absolutely okay with).

This is a long ways to write that this has been changing for quite some time. It makes my life that much more difficult, which no one really cares, but it’s just changed so much. Google at one time was a place of where I could go to websites to find information and now it’s a place that’s trying to aggregate information from those sites without those sites ever receiving any traffic. For instance, why is News Center Maine writing about Texas Tech or is this just stealing from the original source (which we know exactly that it’s stealing content from Locked on Texas Tech).

I’d also say to thank your lucky stars that there’s a really solid group of reporters that write about Texas Tech. I know I don’t link to all of them and I don’t link to posts behind paywalls, but if you really want information, it’s there for you to pay for and they are good with what they do.

On the Hardwood

CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter on the winners and losers with the new 5-for-5 rule:

After a one-year dalliance at NC State, Darrion Williams will be back in Lubbock next season for his fifth year of eligibility. The former All-Big 12 forward played his best basketball for Texas Tech from 2023-25, and now, he gets a chance to run it back for a Red Raiders roster that desperately needed some firepower.

Suddenly, Grant McCasland’s vision is getting a whole lot clearer. Williams and fellow five-for-five, UCF transfer forward Jamichael Stillwell totally change the complexion of Texas Tech’s 2026-27 outlook. When All-American big man JT Toppin returns from his knee injury, Texas Tech will have the bones of a top-5 offense in America:

On the Gridiron

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams on the progress of QB Will Hammond and RB Quinten Joyner. Here’s a bit on Joyner:

“He’s just getting back used to being in the pads again, the cuts, where you are getting hit,” McGuire said. “He’s not been taken to the ground yet, but he’s been hit some, so he’s handling that really well. I just think Will, because he’s gotten to do more football through the summer, that he’s a little bit farther along, but I feel good about both of them.”

Red Raider Sports’ Lane Selph with a reap of the presser, including possibly seeing more blitzing from the linebacker spot:

After Romaine impressed while rushing off the edge and the interior, McGuire was asked whether Texas Tech could create specific packages designed to take advantage of that part of his game. “That’s something we did a little bit today in our third-down stuff, some of our dime packages, our Cheetah (package), just different stuff like that because we do have some guys that have the ability to do that,” McGuire said.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman has his annual freaks list and LB Ben Roberts makes the list at No. 62:

The Red Raiders lost many terrific players from last season’s defense, but Roberts — the Most Outstanding Player in the Big 12 title game — is back. The 6-3, 245-pounder might be the strongest linebacker in college football. He’s had an outstanding offseason, recently power cleaning 405 pounds. He squatted 700 pounds and bench pressed 405. He’s also hit 21.0 mph on the GPS.

USA Today’s Matt Hayes writes that QB Will Hammond has the last laugh over Brendan Sorsby:

“Let me ask you something,” Hammond, Texas Tech’s redshirt sophomore quarterback tells USA TODAY Sports. “If your boss hired someone to take your place, would you just sit around and let it happen? Now you know how I felt.”

This is your quarterback, Texas Tech. About as stand tall, don’t flinch, West Texas as it gets ― even if he is from Austin.

The Athletic’s Austin Meek gets to know Will Hammond:

From a talent perspective, Hammond fits the profile of a starting quarterback on a CFP contender. He was a four-star recruit who led the state in passing yards and accounted for 807 yards in a single game as a senior at Hutto High School near Austin. His recruitment took off after the Elite 11 showcase in 2023, with Hammond going throw for throw with Julian Sayin, Dylan Raiola, CJ Carr and other big-time prospects.

Because Hammond was considering a two-year LDS mission after high school, he didn’t do all of the intensive college prep that some elite quarterbacks do, Stanfield said. Stanfield knew Hammond had the traits to be successful, but he didn’t anticipate the rush of recruiting interest from schools such as Oregon, Penn State and Texas A&M.

Two player availability videos.