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Texas Tech Red Raiders – Official Athletics Website

LUBBOCK, Texas – Following its historic run in the Women’s College World Series, Texas Tech softball came in at No. 2 in the final polls of the 2025 NCAA Softball season. The Red Raiders finished the season with a 54-14 record and were national runners-up in the programs first trip to the WCWS. D1Softball, Softball America, […]

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LUBBOCK, Texas – Following its historic run in the Women’s College World Series, Texas Tech softball came in at No. 2 in the final polls of the 2025 NCAA Softball season. The Red Raiders finished the season with a 54-14 record and were national runners-up in the programs first trip to the WCWS.

D1Softball, Softball America, NFCA and USA Softball polls all tabbed the Red Raiders as the No. 2 team to close out the season. This is Tech’s highest ever ranking and adds to a long list of historic accomplishments by the 2025 roster.

The Red Raiders won their first Big 12 regular season and tournament titles, hosted their first NCAA Regional, advanced to their first NCAA Super Regional and eventually made it to the promise land of college softball in Oklahoma City for the WCWS.

 



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Game Analyst Says EA Sports Betting Big on College Basketball Can Be Tracked Back to Previous Failure

EA Sports is making a comeback play that has nothing to do with nostalgia. The gaming giant is eyeing a 2028 return to college basketball, and according to content creator PAC Hoops, this move stems directly from one glaring problem: Madden NFL has become a punching bag for frustrated fans. Sometimes the best offense comes from […]

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EA Sports is making a comeback play that has nothing to do with nostalgia. The gaming giant is eyeing a 2028 return to college basketball, and according to content creator PAC Hoops, this move stems directly from one glaring problem: Madden NFL has become a punching bag for frustrated fans.

Sometimes the best offense comes from admitting your defense isn’t working.

Why Is EA Sports Pivoting From Madden to College Basketball?

In a recent video, PAC Hoops didn’t mince words about EA Sports’ motivation for returning to college basketball. The content creator pointed to Madden NFL’s declining reputation as the driving force behind this strategic shift.

“This will be their first game since NCAA Basketball 10. And it makes perfect sense why they’re doing this. Madden is probably the most hated sports game in the entire world,” said PAC Hoops.

The criticism goes deeper than just fan complaints. “You think 2K is bad? Madden will make zero changes and make a brand new game every year. EA noticed that Madden was starting to struggle, at least compared to FIFA, and decided to make College Football 25,” he said.

“And you guys know how well that video game turned out. EA is trying to get that same kind of magic into the basketball simulation video games,” shared PAC Hoops.

The numbers back up this strategy. College Football 25’s success, reflected in its 83 Metacritic score and over $1 billion in revenue, proved EA could tap into the pent-up demand for college sports games. With Madden facing fan backlash for repetitive releases, EA is banking on college basketball to replicate that same success.

What Does EA’s College Basketball Tease Tell Us About Their Plans?

EA Sports didn’t stay quiet about their intentions. EA Sports teased the return of its college basketball series on June 30, with a cryptic X post saying, “Bring the Madness. Let’s run it back. #CBB #ItsInTheGame.”

Multiple reports, including a memo obtained by Matt Brown of Extra Points, confirm a potential 2028 target for EA Sports College Basketball. The memo, dated June 26, 2025, revealed that the College Licensing Company (CLC) issued a request for proposals in November 2024, with EA’s bid selected over two others.

This won’t be a small-scale operation. The game will feature both men’s and women’s Division I teams with over 730 programs, marking a first for the series. That massive undertaking explains why EA needs until 2028 to get everything right.

The last iteration, NCAA Basketball 10, released in 2009 with Blake Griffin on the cover, earned a 75 Metacritic score before the series was shelved due to poor sales and legal issues over player likenesses. Thanks to changes in NCAA policy, those legal barriers no longer exist.

RELATED: EA Sports College Basketball’s Potential Release Pattern After 2028 Announced by Insider

The revival of this franchise hinges on the NCAA’s NIL ruling, which allows athletes to profit from their likeness and removes the legal barriers that previously halted college sports games. College Football 25 leveraged NIL to include real players, and EA Sports College Basketball will likely follow the same model.

The game’s scope, covering hundreds of teams, arenas, and audio assets, explains the 2028 timeline. EA’s focus on ensuring authenticity means they’re not rushing this release, especially after learning from Madden’s missteps and College Football 25’s success.





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Kenny Dillingham, Deion Sanders among Big 12 coaches questioning NIL, player pay reforms

Kenny Dillingham said, “I just want to know the rules” when it comes to clarification about NIL deals and revenue sharing. (Photo by Truitt Robinson/Cronkite News) FRISCO, Texas – The state of college sports could calmly be described as the Wild, Wild West, a stage for an old-fashioned duel between programs and the NCAA, with […]

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Kenny Dillingham said, “I just want to know the rules” when it comes to clarification about NIL deals and revenue sharing. (Photo by Truitt Robinson/Cronkite News)

FRISCO, Texas – The state of college sports could calmly be described as the Wild, Wild West, a stage for an old-fashioned duel between programs and the NCAA, with athletes standing somewhere in the middle.

Texas is a fitting setting for such showdowns.

Big 12 Media Days provided several opportunities for coaches in the conference to voice their displeasure with the current system and how players are paid like NFL stars. Even though power conference teams like those within the Big 12 do benefit in terms of securing more commitments from the best available players, they realize it’s an unjust and unfair system that could monopolize the sport indefinitely.

“We’re in the profession and we don’t even know the rules,” Cincinnati football coach Scott Satterfield said. “It’s difficult, and it’s ever-changing. There’s nothing that’s been stable, really, since 2020. Things have changed so much and so fast.”

Recruiting is among the biggest challenges. Though the NCAA reached a settlement in June that would give $2.8 billion for colleges to pay athletes, the NCAA is negotiating with House plaintiff lawyers to apply rules and repercussions to schools that attempt to avoid the cap in compensation packages offered to incoming players. Third-party NIL deals are being fully guaranteed, which would go against new revenue-sharing rules. Programs are also offering contracts that would be impossible to fit beneath the $20.8 million annual compensation cap.

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham, who captured the Big 12 crown last season behind a slew of portal additions, is eager for a clear-cut direction for the sport so college football can return to what he believes are the values at its core.

“I just want to know the rules,” Dillingham said. “Tell us where the sandbox is and we’ll play in it. At the end of the day, this is a game. I know this is a business, I know this is a profession for everybody. But anybody who’s not in this to see a kid go from an 18-year-old kid to a 22-year-old man, and enter the real world, is in it for the wrong reasons.”

In a time when players can earn millions of dollars as freshmen or by entering the portal, the players a team retains for several years become the most crucial ones on the roster.

“In this new era where you have 105 kids on scholarship, it’s all about retaining the guys on your team,” Dillingham said. “If you constantly are looking for the next best thing to replace the guys on your team, then your own guys and your team should leave. Why wouldn’t they? If you’re not loyal to them, they shouldn’t be loyal to you.”

Colorado coach Deion Sanders said he wishes the new era of college football included a hard salary cap with a system to rank player salaries based on ability. (Photo by Truitt Robinson/Cronkite News)

The two-way street of loyalty and trust between players and coaching staff is occasionally the deciding factor for players being recruited with similarly hefty bags of cash. Coaches argue that it should return to the forefront of the recruiting process. That point is only emphasized by the fact that hundreds of submitted NIL deals hang in limbo while the College Sports Commission and NIL clearinghouse manage the fallout of the settlement.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders proposed a hard salary cap with a system to tier rank player salaries based on ability and overall performance.

“I wish there was a cap,” Sanders said. “The top-of-the-line guy player makes this, and if you’re not that type of guy, you know you’re not going to make that. That’s what the NFL does. The problem is you have a guy that’s not that darn good, but he could go to another school and they give him half a million dollars, and you can’t compete with that. It doesn’t make sense.”

Moments earlier, however, Sanders praised Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire for spending aggressively in the transfer portal. The Red Raiders flipped their team into a recruiting juggernaut almost overnight, spending upwards of $50 million on players, which was split into $30 million front-loaded and another $20.5 million courtesy of the revenue-share. Front-loaded contracts allowed school collectives to pay players before the enforcement of the settlement on July 1.

McGuire, whose Red Raiders figure to contend for the Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff selection this fall, said his aggression is just taking advantage of the current state of affairs, and more schools should do the same to compete with the annual contenders from the SEC and Big Ten.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, entering his 21st season at the helm of the Utes, echoed Sanders’ sentiment about a salary cap. He acknowledged that players are moving toward becoming official employees, though the contracts they are now signing to get paid make them employees in every way but the official title. Whittingham remains unsure of the extent to which he supports employing college athletes.

“You say, ‘college football’s not the NFL,’ but the NFL has been doing some good things for a lot of years,” Whittingham said. “We ought to take some pages from them on how to implement a salary cap and collective bargaining if it comes to that. … As distasteful as it might sound to some people, I think an NFL minor league model is the best direction to hit.”

Until new policies can be enforced at every level of college football to ensure more parity and a fair state of play, the formula for winning national championships is printed on a blank check.

“All you have to do is look at the College Football Playoff and see what those teams spent,” Sanders said. “And you’ll understand darn well why they’re in the playoffs.”





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The top 5 in every major category

The greatest career’s in Kentucky history broken down into wild statistics Kentucky’s basketball history is dripping with legends—and numbers don’t lie. From Issel’s scoring dominance to Magloire’s shot-swatting reign, here are the Cats’ top five in every major career stat category. Let the barbershop debates begin. Scoring Denver Nuggets v Washington Bullets | Focus On […]

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The greatest career’s in Kentucky history broken down into wild statistics

Kentucky’s basketball history is dripping with legends—and numbers don’t lie. From Issel’s scoring dominance to Magloire’s shot-swatting reign, here are the Cats’ top five in every major career stat category. Let the barbershop debates begin.

Scoring

Dan Issel

Denver Nuggets v Washington Bullets | Focus On Sport/GettyImages

1. Dan Issel – 2,138 points (1967–70)

2. Kenny Walker – 2,080 (1982–86)

3, Jack “Goose” Givens – 2,038 (1974–78)

4, Keith Bogans – 1,923 (1999–03)

5. Tony Delk – 1,890 (1992–96)

Assists (Since 1962)

Dirk Minnifield

Dec 19, 1980; Lexington, KY, USA; FILE PHOTO; Kentucky Wildcats guard Dirk Minniefield (10) shoots against Alaska during the UK Invitational at Rupp Arena in the 1980-81 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images | Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images

1. Dirk Minniefield – 646 (1979–83)

2. Anthony Epps – 544 (1993–97)

3. Roger Harden – 498 (1982–86)

4. Wayne Turner – 494 (1995–99)

5. Sean Woods – 482 (1989–92)

3-Pointers made

Tony Delk

Tony Delk | Jonathan Daniel/GettyImages

1. Tony Delk – 283 (1992–96)

2. Keith Bogans – 254 (1999–03)

3. Tayshaun Prince – 204 (1998–02)

4. Gerald Fitch – 199 (2000–04)

5. Derrick Miller – 191 (1986–90)

Rebounds

Dan Issel

Dan Issel, Kentucky Colonels | Ross Lewis/GettyImages

1. Dan Issel – 1,078 (1967–70)

2. Frank Ramsey – 1,038 (1950–54)

3. Cliff Hagan – 1,035 (1950–54)

4. Johnny Cox – 1,004 (1956–59)

5. Cotton Nash – 962 (1961–64)

Steals

Wayne Turner

Wayne Turner | Jonathan Daniel/GettyImages

1. Wayne Turner – 238 (1995–99)

2. Tony Delk – 201 (1992–96)

3. Cliff Hawkins – 199 (2000–04)

4. Ed Davender – 191 (1984–88)

5. Jared Prickett – 187 (1992–97)

Blocks

Jamaal Magliore

Jamaal Magliore | Andy Lyons/GettyImages

1. Jamaal Magloire – 268 (1996–00)

2. Willie Cauley-Stein – 233 (2012–15)

3. Melvin Turpin – 226 (1980–84)

4. Sam Bowie – 218 (1979–84)

5. Andre Riddick – 212 (1991–95)

From the 50s to the Final Four runs of the 90s and beyond, Kentucky’s stat leaders are a timeline of greatness. It’s not just tradition—it’s numbers, and the bar is always high. There will probably never be a player stay around in college long enough to even come close to Dan Issel’s records, but with NIL maybe someone can overtake the gawdy numbers The Horse put up.



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ESPN releases final mock draft, predictions for first two rounds

The 2025 MLB Draft is rapidly approaching. Selections are getting underway this weekend on Sunday, July 13. This year’s edition is loaded with talent from both the college and high school ranks, headlined by the two best pitchers from the 2025 college baseball season. ESPN released its final mock draft prior to this weekend’s event, […]

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The 2025 MLB Draft is rapidly approaching. Selections are getting underway this weekend on Sunday, July 13.

This year’s edition is loaded with talent from both the college and high school ranks, headlined by the two best pitchers from the 2025 college baseball season. ESPN released its final mock draft prior to this weekend’s event, featured below.

1. Washington Nationals: LHP Kade Anderson, LSU

LSU sophomore left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson has skyrocketed to the projected No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft. Anderson led all college pitchers this season in strikeouts (180) and pitched to a 3.18 ERA in 119 innings. He held Coastal Carolina to just three hits and no runs with 10 strikeouts in the opening game of the College World Series Final, posting the first CWS shutout since 2018.

“I mean, his next pitch should be for someplace in the Washington Nationals organization,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said following their win in the CWS. “It’s not close. And they usually draft really well. And he’s the best player in the country. There’s nobody closer to the Major Leagues than that right now.”

© Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tennessee left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle ranked second in the country in strikeouts (164) behind Anderson, pitching to a 3.20 ERA in 95 2/3 innings this season. He struggled a bit down the final stretch, however, posting a 6.86 ERA over his final five starts (21 innings).

Doyle, however, remains positioned to be the highest drafted pitcher in Tennessee program history. This comes after transferring from Ole Miss prior to the season.

Right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez out of Corona High School (CA) would mark Cincinnati’s third straight selection of an arm in the Top 10 picks. Hernandez is the top high school pitching prospect of the 2025 class and has reached 100 mph on his fastball.

He’s verbally committed to Vanderbilt. But it looks like he probably won’t reach campus and will choose to go pro.

Holliday, who is the son of seven-time MLB All-Star Matt Holliday and brother of Jackson Holliday (First Overall Pick in the 2022 MLB Draft), was projected as the No. 1 pick for most of the past year. But he has slipped a bit recently.

He was recently named Gatorade’s Oklahoma Player of the Year at Stillwater High School and looks to become the fourth No. 1 pick out of high school in the past 10 MLB Drafts. He’s verbally committed to Oklahoma State, but it looks like he probably won’t reach campus.

5. St. Louis Cardinals: SS Eli Willits, Oklahoma commit

Photo via OU Athletics

Fort-Cobb Broxton (OK) High product Eli Willits is one of three talented high school shortstops projected in the Top 10 of this year’s draft. He is listed at No. 5 on MiLB.com’s Prospect Rankings ahead of Carlson and is a proficient switch-hitter. His father, Reggie Willits, is a former MLB veteran who is now an associate head coach at Oklahoma.

His brother, Jaxon, started 50 games for the Sooners at shortstop this season. He’s also verbally committed to Oklahoma, but it looks like he probably won’t reach campus.

Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette was originally selected in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but bet on himself and returned to college. The decision paid off mightily, as the 2025 First Team All-American is projected as the No. 3 pick in the 2025 Draft.

Starting for a Beaver program that made the College World Series for the first time since 2018, Arquette hit for a .354 average with 17 doubles, 19 home runs, 66 RBI, a .654 SLG% and a .461 OBP%. He would become Oregon State‘s third top-three pick in the last seven Drafts.

Shortstop JoJo Parker is the third projected high school shortstop to be selected in the top-10. He’s the twin brother of Perfect Game All-American Jacob Parker and his tabbed as MiLB’s No. 9 ranked prospect.

He’s verbally committed to Mississippi State. But it looks like he probably won’t reach campus and will choose to go pro.

© Abigail Dollins/Statesman Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Florida State left-handed pitcher Jamie Arnold is the third projected college lefty to go in the top-five picks in this Mock Draft. He capped off back-to-back stellar campaigns for the Seminoles by pitching to a 2.98 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings this season.

In 13 2/3 innings of work in this year’s NCAA Tournament, Arnold led FSU to two wins (Mississippi State and Oregon State) by pitching to a 2.63 ERA with 22 strikeouts. He seems poised to be Florida State’s highest drafted arm since right-hander Jonathan Johnson went No. 7 overall in 1995.

Auburn‘s Ike Irish was one of the best catchers in college baseball in 2024, but transitioned to the outfield in 2025. He excelled there as well, making just two errors in 55 games. Offensively, he hit for a .364 average with 13 doubles, 19 home runs and 58 RBI for a 40-win Tiger team.

Over the span of three seasons, Irish hit for a .350 average with 48 doubles, 39 home runs and 167 RBI. He was named to the All-SEC First Team in both 2024 and 2025.

10. Chicago White Sox: SS Billy Carlson, Tennessee commit

Billy Carlson is a stud defensive shortstop out of Corona High School in California. He is one of two prospects out of Corona High (RHP Seth Hernandez) projected as First-Round picks. He was once a two-way player (with a fastball in the mid-90s), but he has focused on the infield as he embarks on his professional baseball journey.

He is currently verbally committed to Tennessee. But it looks like he probably won’t reach campus and go pro instead.

Picks 11-30 of the draft

11. Athletics: RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma
12. Texas Rangers: SS Steele HallTennessee commit
13. San Francisco Giants: OF Brendan SummerhillArizona
14. Tampa Bay Rays: OF Jaden Fauske, LSU commit
15. Boston Red Sox: 3B Gavin FienTexas commit
16. Minnesota Twins: 2B Gavin KilenTennessee
17. Chicago Cubs: 3B Josh HammondWake Forest commit
18. Arizona Diamondbacks: C Caden BodineCoastal Carolina
19. Baltimore Orioles: SS Wehiwa AloyArkansas
20. Milwaukee Brewers: SS Marek HoustonWake Forest
21. Houston Astros: OF Jace LaVioletteTexas A&M
22. Atlanta Braves: RHP Tyler BremnerUC Santa Barbara
23. Kansas City Royals: RHP Gage WoodArkansas
24. Detroit Tigers: SS Daniel PierceGeorgia commit
25. San Diego Padres: 3B/OF Quentin YoungLSU commit
26. Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Matthew Fisher, Indiana commit
27. Cleveland Guardians: SS Tate SouthiseneUSC commit

Coastal Carolina’s Caden Bodine (© Dylan Widger-Imagn Images)

28. Kansas City Royals: RHP Aaron WatsonFlorida commit

Compensatory Round of draft

29. Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Slater de BrunVanderbilt commit
30. Baltimore Orioles: 3B Xavier NeyensOregon State commit
31. Baltimore Orioles: 1B/3B Andrew FischerTennessee
32. Milwaukee Brewers: SS/2B Kayson CunninghamTexas commit

Competitive Balance Round A of draft

33. Boston Red Sox: RHP Marcus Phillips, Tennessee
34. Detroit Tigers: SS Coy James, Ole Miss commit
35. Seattle Mariners: LHP Zach RootArkansas
36. Minnesota Twins: OF Devin TaylorIndiana
37. Baltimore Orioles: SS Dax Kilby, Clemson commit
38. New York Mets: RHP Patrick ForbesLouisville
39. New York Yankees: RHP JB MiddletonSouthern Miss
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson
41. Los Angeles Dodgers: LHP Kruz SchoolcraftTennessee commit
42. Tampa Bay Rays: RHP Anthony Eyanson, LSU
43. Miami Marlins: OF Charles Davalan, Arkansas

Arkansas’ Zach Root (© Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images)

Second Round of draft

44. Chicago White Sox: OF Ethan ConradWake Forest
45. Colorado Rockies: 2B/OF Sean GambleVanderbilt commit
46. Miami Marlins: SS Josh Owens, Georgia Southern commit
47. Los Angeles Angels: OF Max Belyeu, Texas
48. Athletics: SS Alex LodiseFlorida State
49. Washington Nationals: LHP J.D. Thompson, Vanderbilt
50. Pittsburgh Pirates: C Luke Stevenson, North Carolina
51. Cincinnati Reds: C Taitn Gray, Oregon commit
52. Texas Rangers: C Michael Oliveto, Yale commit
53. Tampa Bay Rays: OF Dean Moss, LSU commit
54. Minnesota Twins: OF Brandon Compton, Arizona State
55. St. Louis Cardinals: SS Cooper Flemming, Vanderbilt commit
56. Chicago Cubs: OF Josiah Hartshorn, Texas A&M commit
57. Seattle Mariners: RHP Malachi Witherspoon, Oklahoma
58. Baltimore Orioles: OF Mason Neville, Oregon
59. Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Chase Shores, LSU
60. Atlanta Braves: CF Kane Kepley, North Carolina
61. Kansas City Royals: RHP Riley Quick, Alabama
62. Detroit Tigers: 2B Mitch Voit, Michigan
63. Philadelphia Phillies: OF Alec Blair, Oklahoma commit
64. Cleveland Guardians: SS Jordan Yost, Florida commit
65. Los Angeles Dodgers: SS Aidan West, NC State commit

Competitive Balance Round B of draft

66. Cleveland Guardians: LHP Cade Obermueller, Iowa
67. Tampa Bay Rays: RHP A.J. Russell, Tennessee
68. Milwaukee Brewers: 3B Dean Curley, Tennessee
69. Baltimore Orioles: OF Korbyn Dickerson, Indiana
70. Cleveland Guardians: LHP Aiden Stillman, Vanderbilt commit
71. Kansas City Royals: RHP Angel Cervantes, UCLA commit
72. St. Louis Cardinals: LHP Briggs McKenzie, LSU commit
73. Pittsburgh Pirates: 1B Ethan Petry, South Carolina
74. Colorado Rockies: OF James Quinn-Irons, George Mason
75. Boston Red Sox: OF Jake Cook, Southern Miss

South Carolina’s Ethan Petry (© Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)



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Deion Sanders addressed Texas Tech’s wild NIL spending

The question was about Texas Tech. The answer? Classic Coach Prime. At Big 12 Media Days in Frisco on Tuesday, Deion Sanders took a brief detour from quarterback questions and health updates to weigh in on what everyone in college football has been whispering about: NIL money, the transfer portal, and how Texas Tech is […]

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The question was about Texas Tech.

The answer? Classic Coach Prime.

At Big 12 Media Days in Frisco on Tuesday, Deion Sanders took a brief detour from quarterback questions and health updates to weigh in on what everyone in college football has been whispering about: NIL money, the transfer portal, and how Texas Tech is handing out deals like it’s the MLB trade deadline.

“Joey’s got some money! He’s spending that money! I love it.”

Coach Prime on Texas Tech NIL spending

That “Joey” is Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire—an old friend of Sanders from their time in Texas high school football—and now, the leader of college football’s second-ranked incoming transfer class.

Tech has landed 21 transfers this cycle and recently signed five-star tackle Felix Ojo (who visited Colorado in May) to a reported $5.1 million revenue-sharing deal.

Let that number marinate for a second.

$5.1 million. For a high school senior.

From target to trendsetter

What made Prime’s comments great was what came next.

“Once upon a time, you guys were talking junk about me going in that portal. Now when everybody goes in the portal, it’s OK. It’s cool when they do it. It’s a problem when I do it. Ain’t that a rap song?”

It is a rap song, and it’s also a dead-on point.

Two years ago, Sanders was the villain of college football for flipping Colorado’s roster inside-out through the portal. The media backlash was loud.

But now? Joey McGuire does it. Purdue does it. Even Bill Belichick at UNC is diving in. Suddenly, it’s innovative.

Funny how that works.

The NIL divide

The truth is—Texas Tech has big-time financial backing.

Their top donor, Cody Campbell, is reportedly helping bankroll $55 million in NIL deals across Tech athletics. That’s not a typo. That’s oil money, West Texas style. And it’s creating a major gap between haves and have-nots in the Big 12.

Colorado? We’re not there yet.

“Can you send a few of those dollars to us so we can get some of those players too?” Sanders joked.

And sure, he was half-kidding. But there’s truth behind the humor. The Buffs aren’t poor by any means—but compared to the booster-driven NIL war chests at places like Tech, USC, or even Utah, CU is still playing catch-up.

Deion Sanders

Colorado v Texas Tech | John E. Moore III/GettyImages

Coach Prime’s cap vision

Sanders didn’t stop there. He also shared something deeper.

“I wish it was a cap. The top player makes this, and if you’re not that type of guy, you know you’re not going to make that. That’s what the NFL does. The problem is you’ve got a guy that’s not that darn good, but he could go to another school and they give him half a million dollars. You can’t compete with that.”

It was a rare moment. It highlights what we already know: Coach Prime is trying to build something sustainable in Boulder.

He’s not against NIL, and he’s all for players getting paid. But Coach wants a system that makes sense and one that is fair. One that keeps the sport from turning into a free-agent circus every December.

Mutual respect, real talk

There’s no beef between Sanders and McGuire. In fact, there’s a ton of mutual admiration. Prime called McGuire “one of the best coaches in the conference” and a “man of standard.” That’s high praise.

And don’t forget—last season, Sanders and the Buffs went into Lubbock and beat Tech 41-27. Tortillas flew. Debris hit the field. It was the wildest road environment Colorado played in all year.

And when things got heated, it was McGuire who grabbed the mic and told Tech fans to chill.

“Joey told them to stop throwing at us or there’d be consequences,” Sanders said. “And I love that. I love Joey.”

But don’t mistake love for complacency.

Coach Prime sees what’s happening in this new NIL world. He’s not bitter—but he’s definitely aware. He’s the trendsetter, and now everyone else is catching up, but with deeper pockets.

Joey McGuire

Texas Tech has spent $55 million towards NIL. | John E. Moore III/GettyImages

Where the Buffs stand

This was a glimpse at the new college football arms race, and where Colorado stands in it.

The Buffs are trending in the right direction, but to truly compete in the Big 12 and beyond, we need to close the financial gap.

That means donors stepping up and fans supporting NIL collectives.

We need to match the energy that Tech is bringing, but because of who Prime is, that would bring serious criticism.

However, if we want to make Boulder the permanent home of college football’s most electric head coach, we better keep giving him the resources to fight.

— Want more stories like this? Follow us on X for all things Colorado Football and Basketball. 



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QB Jake Retzlaff announces his withdrawal from BYU

Open Extended Reactions Jake Retzlaff announced on Friday that he’s withdrawing from BYU, formally initiating his transfer process from the school. Retzlaff, BYU’s starting quarterback last year, said in an Instagram post that he made the “difficult decision” to withdraw and that he plans to “step away” from the BYU program. The post makes public […]

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QB Jake Retzlaff announces his withdrawal from BYU

Jake Retzlaff announced on Friday that he’s withdrawing from BYU, formally initiating his transfer process from the school.

Retzlaff, BYU’s starting quarterback last year, said in an Instagram post that he made the “difficult decision” to withdraw and that he plans to “step away” from the BYU program. The post makes public what had been expected, as Retzlaff began informing his teammates and coaches in late June of his intent to transfer.

According to ESPN sources, Retzlaff’s path to transfer to a new school is not expected to come from the NCAA transfer portal. With Retzlaff just short of graduating, which would make the transfer process more traditional, he plans to simply leave BYU and then enroll at a new school.

Editor’s Picks

That path is not a common one, but there’s precedent. That includes former Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Lucas leaving school this winter and enrolling at the University of Miami.

Retzlaff expressed his gratitude for his time at BYU, saying “it has meant more to me than just football.” He added that he’s “excited to turn the page and embrace the next chapter.”

BYU officials generally avoided the topic of Retzlaff at Big 12 media days this week, deferring to him to make a statement on his next move.

In a statement on Friday, BYU athletics said: “We are grateful for the time Jake Retzlaff has spent at BYU. As he moves forward, BYU Athletics understands and respects Jake’s decision to withdraw from BYU, and we wish him all the best as he enters the next phase of his career.”

Retzlaff’s departure comes in the wake of BYU’s planned seven-game suspension of him for violating the school’s honor code.

That suspension arose after he was accused in a lawsuit of raping a woman in 2023. The lawsuit ended up being dismissed on June 30, with the parties jointly agreeing to dismiss with prejudice, but Retzlaff’s response included an admission of premarital sex, which is a violation of the BYU honor code.

Retzlaff went 11-2 as BYU’s starting quarterback in 2024, throwing for 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns. His departure leaves BYU with a three-way quarterback race this summer to replace him, with no clear favorite.

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