LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior outside linebacker David Bailey and senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez were recognized Tuesday with the Pony Express Award, which honors college football’s most-outstanding teammate duo, regardless of position.

The award, named in honor of former SMU running backs Eric Dickerson and Craig James, is back in its second year, highlighting the nation’s top tandems such as Bailey and Rodriguez, who have helped build one of the nation’s top defenses this season for the Red Raiders. Bailey and Rodriguez were named the winners of this season’s Pony Express Award over fellow talented duos in Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Georgia linebackers CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson and Notre Dame running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.

 

“Jacob Rodriguez and David Bailey played with relentless energy and absolute trust in each other,” said Dickerson, who joined with James to form one of college football’s all-time great rushing duos from 1979-82. “They embody the team-first mindset that defines this award.”

 

Bailey has lived up to his reputation as one of the nation’s top pass rushers since arriving at Texas Tech this past offseason, ranking among the FBS leaders with 13.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. Bailey leads all power conference players in sacks, ranking second overall in the category, while his 17.5 tackles for loss are third in the FBS.

 

Pro Football Focus credits Bailey with 74 total pressures this season, which easily leads all of college football. The publication has awarded him a 93.0 overall defensive grade, which is tied for second nationally among all positions behind only his teammate in Rodriguez. This is easily the most-productive season of Bailey’s career, pushing the Red Raiders to a 12-1 record and their first Big 12 title after a 34-7 victory this past Saturday over BYU.

 

This is the third national award for Rodriguez in the past week, meanwhile, as he previously was named the winner of the Butkus Award, presented to the nation’s top linebacker, and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which celebrates the nation’s premier defensive player. He and Bailey are also two of four finalists for the Lombardi Award, which will be announced in Houston on Wednesday night.

 

Entering bowl season, Rodriguez leads the FBS with seven forced fumbles and ranks among the top 15 nationally with 117 tackles. He is also the first FBS player since 2005 to record at least five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions in the same season. His impact anchored a Texas Tech defense that leads the nation with 31 takeaways and ranks third nationally in scoring defense at 10.9 points per game. Rodriguez was responsible for nine takeaways himself — all in Big 12 play.

 

“These two leaders showed how much impact a committed partnership can have,” James said. “They performed at a high level, inspiring everyone around them.”

The Pony Express Award is determined by a vote of current college football players, making it one of the most unique recognitions in the sport. The award was previously presented to Colorado teammates Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter following the 2024 season.

LUBBOCK, Texas – Dave Campbell’s Texas Football unveiled its 2025 All-Texas College Football Team following championship weekend, with the seven Power Four programs in the Lone Star State accounting for 40 of the 56 players selected. Texas Tech led all programs with eight honorees.

Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner Jacob Rodriguez was tabbed the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Defensive Player of the Year, in addition to being selected as one of Texas Tech’s four First-Team All-Texas Defense picks. Joining the standout linebacker on the first team were defensive end David Bailey, defensive tackle Lee Hunter, and cornerback Brice Pollock. That quartet played a key role in elevating the Red Raiders to top-five national rankings in turnovers gained (1st, 31), rushing defense (1st, 68.5 yards per game), scoring defense (3rd, 10.9), total defense (5th, 254.4), and sacks (T-5th, 3.0 per game).

Defensive end Romello Height, an integral part of Tech’s pressure-heavy front, was named to the Second-Team All-Texas Defense. Height recorded 54 pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus, the seventh most in the FBS. Bailey led all of college football with 74 pressures.

On the offense, running back Cameron Dickey and offensive lineman Howard Sampson were each named First-Team All-Texas Offense, while running back J’Koby Williams was tabbed to the second team.

A total of 56 players were selected, with 28 on offense and 28 on defense. Texas Tech’s eight selections led all teams, followed by seven for Texas A&M, and six for the Texas Longhorns. The six Group of Five programs had a combined 16 players on the list, led by North Texas with six. 

Eddie Robinson and George Munger Coach of the Year finalist Joey McGuire was named the DCTF Co-Coach of the Year alongside Texas A&M’s Mike Elko. Both head coaches have their teams in this year’s College Football Playoff, with the Red Raiders earning the No. 4 seed and the Aggies the No. 7 seed.

DCTF 2025 ALL-TEXAS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM (Texas Tech selections)

First-Team All-Texas Offense

RB: Cameron Dickey, So. 

OL: Howard Sampson, Jr. 

First-Team All-Texas Defense

DE: David Bailey, Sr. 

DT: Lee Hunter, Sr. 

LB: Jacob Rodriguez, Sr. 

CB: Brice Pollock, Jr. 

Second-Team All-Texas Offense

UTL: J’Koby Williams, So. 

Second-Team All-Texas Defense

DE: Romello Height, Sr. 

Defensive Player of the Year: LB, Jacob Rodriguez

Co-Coach of the Year: Mike Elko (Texas A&M), Joey McGuire (Texas Tech)

To view the complete 2025 All-Texas College Football Teams, visit TexasFootball.com.

– TECH –

 

I’m emptying my notebook on the football coaching searches at Washington State and Portland State. Also, I have thoughts on the bowl game opt-outs by a growing number of schools. And I have some information on James Madison University, Oregon’s first-round opponent in the College Football Playoff.

Plus, a cameo in today’s installment by the front-desk manager at Planet Fitness.

Let’s go…

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and Fox Sports NFL color analyst Troy Aikman wanted to help UCLA football through name, image and likeness donations, but his experience has made him apprehensive about contributing again.

Aikman shared his experience on Monday’s episode of “Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch,” hosted by The Athletic’s sports media reporter Richard Deitsch.

“I gave money to a kid,” Aikman admitted. “I won’t mention who. I’ve done it one time at UCLA. I never met the young man. He was there a year, but he left after the year. I wrote a sizable check and he went to another school. I didn’t even get so much as a thank-you note, so it’s one of those deals where I’m done with NIL. I want to see UCLA be successful, but I’m done with it.”

NIL has become big business in college football. According to 247 Sports, the top five schools in spending (Texas, Ohio State, LSU, Georgia and Texas A&M) spent a combined $98 million in NIL money in 2025, and the number will likely increase next season.

Aikman still believes NIL money should go to players, but he says the system needs changes that benefit the sport without creating a convoluted mess.

“There has to be some leadership at the very top that kind of cleans all of this up, starting with players who accept money. There has to be some accountability and responsibility on their behalf, to have to stick to a program.”

Few recruiters in college football worked harder than Ed Orgeron. No matter which school he was representing, Orgeron did a great job bringing in some great talent. However, most of his work came in the pre-NIL era, meaning he could not, technically, use money in the process.

So when talking about how he would adapt with NIL now legal, Orgeron hilariously said there would just be a slight difference. He does not have to be subtle about the aspect of giving certain recruits a bag to help gain a commitment.

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“You know what?” Orgeron began on Bussin’ With The Boys. “They say, ‘Hey, coach. You know, you’ve been out of coaching for a while. How are you going to adjust to NIL?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s a minor adjustment.’ They said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘Back then, we used to walk through the back door with the cash. Now, we just got to walk through the front door with the cash.’”

The question began by specifically mentioning SEC programs. Orgeron has worked for four of those throughout his career, one of which likely involved zero recruiting. His first job within the SEC came at Arkansas as the assistant strength coach. But as Orgeron climbed up the ladder in his career, prominent roles became available.

None more memorable than being LSU‘s head coach from 2016 through 2021. Everyone remembers the famous national championship in 2019, led by Joe Burrow, and backed by one of the best rosters college football has ever seen. Orgeron was also in charge at Ole Miss beginning in 2005, lasting three seasons.

Lane Kiffin employed Orgeron as the assistant head coach, defensive line coach, and recruiting coordinator at Tennessee in 2009. Everyone knows how that ended, infamously leaving for USC, only for Orgeron to follow him.

Getting back to the present — reports indicate Orgeron might be interested in getting back into the coaching world. He has not held a position since getting fired by LSU, making it four seasons now. One even suggested Orgeron might be a candidate to link back up with Kiffin in Baton Rouge.

If something does come to fruition, a great recruiter will be joining the program. Orgeron is one of the best, even when paying players was not totally legal. But now, his job is a whole lot easier with a direct parth through the front door.