Big 12 Notes

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Big 12 Notes – Postseason

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February 3rd

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CU won’t be playing in Northwestern’s new stadium; Wildcats to open stadium v. Penn State in October

From ESPN … Northwestern will open Ryan Field, its new $862 million stadium, in prime time on Friday, Oct. 2, for the Wildcats’ Big Ten opener against Penn State.

The new facility will debut exactly 100 years after Northwestern Stadium opened on the same site.

The Wildcats’ first two home contests — vs. South Dakota State on Sept. 5 and vs. Colorado on Sept. 19 — will be played at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, a smaller on-campus facility flanking Lake Michigan where the Wildcats have hosted the majority of games the past two seasons.

The team’s remaining five home games will be played at Ryan Field.

For more than a year, Ryan Field organizers had designated the fall of 2026 to open the 35,000-seat facility. When demolition work began later than initially hoped, in February 2024, organizers privately targeted mid-September 2026 for completion. The timeline has been maintained despite inflation challenges and more days lost to harsh weather than originally expected.

“Those [first two] games were likely always going to be on the lake,” Pat Ryan Jr., CEO of Ryan Sports Development, told ESPN. “The only way we would have been able to support those games is if we finished early, and just with the weather alone, there’s no way we were going to get this thing done then. So we’ve had tough headwinds, but we’ve had some good tailwinds because of great people. And the stadium, despite all of this, is going to end up being delivered in mid-September, on time.”

Ryan said Northwestern will use the time between the construction completion and the Penn State game to conduct a soft open, which involves testing stadium operations and troubleshooting. The team also will hold some practices there before facing the Nittany Lions.

“We thought we’d wait until the Big Ten schedule was finalized to really lock in where we’re going to be,” athletic director Mark Jackson told ESPN. “This does give us some breathing room to get in the building, operate it right, get a feel, do some events, get the team in there, do all the things we want to do, as opposed to Sept. 5, which would have really put us in a bind.”

Jackson said the Friday prime-time kickoff slot was appealing to allow fans to experience the stadium throughout the day.

The stadium project has been billed as the largest in college football history. The original project goal was $800 million, but Ryan said it swelled to $922 million before being “value-engineered” to $862 million, with the Ryan family covering the majority of costs.

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January 31st 

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Oklahoma State eclipses CU’s record for departures, with 64 players lost

… Iowa State lost 54 players, just short of CU’s 2023 record of 56 players lost … 

From msn.com … With the 2026 college football transfer portal officially closed for new entries, the Oklahoma State Cowboys set an all-time college football record for transfer portal departures.

According to On3, the program lost 64 players this cycle, and it is the most by any school in a single year. The previous record belonged to the Colorado Buffaloes, which lost 56 players in 2023.

The exodus followed Mike Gundy’s midseason dismissal after a 1-2 start that included a humiliating 69-3 loss to the Oregon Ducks and a home defeat to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

Gundy went 170-90 over 20 seasons in Stillwater, leading the Cowboys to a Big 12 championship in 2011 and eight 10-win campaigns. But the 58-year-old had a disappointing 2024 season with a 3-9 record, and his underwhelming start to 2025 sealed the program’s fate.

His firing opened a 30-day transfer portal window for Oklahoma State players. That early window, combined with the regular January portal period, created a perfect storm for departures.

According to a previous Pokes Report, just 30 players from the previous roster remained listed on the active board inside the team staff room. Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Wendell Gregory led the notable exits. The linebacker posted 19 solo tackles, eight assists and four sacks before transferring to the Kansas State Wildcats.

… Continue reading story here …

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… AND YET … from my “Why Not Us?” Essay last weekend … 

Morris gutted the Oklahoma State roster. There are fewer returning Cowboys on the team than what Coach Prime kept from CU’s 2022 team.

But don’t look for critical articles, like the ones Coach Prime faced in 2023.

Nope. It’s the exact opposite:

• Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News has Oklahoma State in his preseason Top 25 … No. 23 – Oklahoma State – We view first-year coach Eric Morris as a genius-level offensive mind — those who watched North Texas will agree — who is more than capable of turning OSU into a Big 12 contender in his first season.
• Brandon Marcello at CBS Sports …  I’m a firm believer that Oklahoma State will rebound from one of the worst seasons ever to become a challenger in the Big 12 after Eric Morris’ arrival from North Texas.
• Bill Connelly at ESPN … OSU will score plenty of points in 2026, and if the Cowboys’ close-games luck flips as well, they could be a huge turnaround story.

Oklahoma State hasn’t won a game against an FBS team – not one! – since September of 2024. The Cowboys haven’t won a Big 12 conference game since November of 2023. The last time Colorado played Oklahoma State, in the regular season finale of the 2024 season, the Buffs won, 52-0.

And yet, with an entirely new roster, Oklahoma State is rated by the pundits as a dark horse pick to be a Big 12 contender.

… You tell me … 

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January 29th

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CBS Sports Top 100 Transfers – CU has two transferring in; two lost

From CBS Sports …The college football transfer portal has quickly reshaped the sport’s ecosystem, turning roster building into a year-round, high-stakes exercise in talent acquisition. What was once supplemental for many has become foundational for others, as programs lean on proven production and experience to fill immediate needs, while others simply don’t have access to that level of luxury (a run-of-the-mill starter in the SEC could expect to pull in at least $600,000 on the open market).

Every cycle brings its own level of volatility, but the 2026 cycle’s movement felt especially aggressive, with high-end starters — particularly at quarterback — testing the market and NFL-caliber talent changing addresses at a rapid pace.

This Top 100 from my big board rankings at 247Sports reflects that reality. From former five-stars searching for new life to plug-and-play trench pieces and dynamic skill players ready to step into featured roles, these are the transfers who are positioned to make the biggest impact in 2026 and beyond.

From the Big 12 … 

By school, players transferring in … Oklahoma State (3); Texas Tech (2); Arizona State (2); Colorado (2); BYU (1); Kansas State (1); Baylor (1); Utah (1) … None in the top 100: Arizona (0); Kansas (0); Iowa State (0); TCU (0); Houston (0); West Virginia (0); Cincinnati (0); UCF (0) …

By school, players lost … Iowa State (4); Utah (3); Colorado (2); Kansas State (2); Arizona State (2); Cincinnati (1); Baylor (1); TCU (1); Oklahoma State (1) … None in the top 100: Arizona (0); BYU (0); Kansas (0); TCU (0); Houston (0); Texas Tech (0); West Virginia (0) …

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2. Brendan Sorsby, QB, Texas Tech (Cincinnati)

3. Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State (North Texas)

4. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU (Colorado) …What they’re getting: A former five-star and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the Class of 2024, Seaton started 22 games over two seasons under Deion Sanders at Colorado. The most valuable non-quarterback in the transfer portal, his plug-and-play ability directly addresses LSU’s biggest need outside of quarterback.

10. Mateen Ibirogba, DL, Texas Tech (Wake Forest)

13. Omarion Miller, WR, Arizona State (Colorado) … What they’re getting: Coming off a breakout season in Boulder in which he totaled over 800 receiving yards at 18 yards per reception, Miller, alongside new running mate Reed Harris, looks to quickly establish himself as a primary successor to Jordan Tyson in Tempe.

17. Reed Harris, WR, Arizona State (Boston College)

20. DeAndre Moore Jr., WR, Colorado (Texas) … What they’re getting: Moore departs Austin for Boulder as he looks to step into a larger role and earn more targets, joining forces with starting quarterback Julian Lewis and the Buffaloes in the Big 12. A shifty slot operator with an excellent feel for creating consistent separation both off the line of scrimmage and at the top of the route, Moore pairs well with Lewis’s skill set.

23. Caleb Hawkins, RB, Oklahoma State (North Texas)

64. Cade Ulave, LB, BYU (California)

68. Wyatt Young, WR, Oklahoma State (North Texas)

71. Wendell Gregory, EDGE, Kansas State (Oklahoma State)

73. Boo Carter, S, Colorado (Tennessee) … What they’re getting: Following a promising true freshman season, Carter struggled to make the same on-field impact in Knoxville this past year, and fell into Josh Heupel’s doghouse over the offseason. A talented nickel defender who adds playmaking in both the secondary and as a returner, the Buffaloes are banking on a fresh start to help rediscover his early-career success.

84. Hosea Wheeler, DL, Baylor (Indiana)

99. Braden Pegan, WR, Utah (Utah State)

… Read full list here …

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January 28th

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West Virginia and Cincinnati the only Big 12 teams facing four ranked teams in 2026 (CU facing three)

… While Big 12 favorite Texas Tech faces only Arizona State (at home, after a bye) … 

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January 27th 

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Indiana recipe for success (which CU is following?): Don’t chase stars

From The Athletic … It’s no secret that when Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State were winning national titles, they were also annually near the top of the high school recruiting rankings. When Michigan won two years ago, it had 13 players picked in the next NFL Draft.

Indiana, of course, was not a recruiting behemoth. But Cignetti brought in players he knew from James Madison, plus other transfers and high school players he and his staff identified as good fits.

As one of the power-conference head coaches put it: “I’m looking for guys that love football. And that’s what Indiana’s got. They love the team aspect. Especially with this NIL and rev share stuff going on.”

That’s not to say the Alabamas, Georgias and Ohio States were just living off the blue-chip ratings. They also identified which blue chips were the best fits and developed a decent number of three-star players. Cignetti, who coached under Nick Saban at Alabama from 2009 to 2012, knew something about evaluating high school recruits.

In the transfer portal, recruiting is about looking at production at a player’s previous school, even if it’s a lower level. And looking at player intangibles, rather than just pure skill.

One head coach at the Group of 6 level thought Cignetti might have benefited from not feeling pressure to pull in a top-ranked recruiting class.

“Cignetti wasn’t worried about riding the up-and-down of the recruiting cycle, where sometimes you’ve gotta deal with the fan base,” the coach said. “Social media gets really loud if you’re not getting four- and five-star ranked guys. I don’t know if pressure is the right word, but sometimes people feel they have to try and create that momentum or ride that momentum. He wasn’t concerned about that at all. I don’t think he dealt with that, worrying about what guys might be ranked. He just ignored it. They just trusted their evaluations. That’s a learning point.”

Evaluation was also a key point made by a power-conference assistant, especially on the portal. This coach also spent time in the NFL, and said that experience — when he was evaluating college players for the draft — has become a useful skill for college coaches.

“More than anything, what makes a good head football coach looks really different than it did 10 years ago,” this coach said. “It used to be that you needed to be a great high school evaluator, relationship builder, and good ol’ boy with donors. Now, you better be really good at evaluating college tape and knowing how to price it, all while building relationships with players to help them not leave.”

… Continue reading story here …

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January 26th

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Even with Big Ten money, Rutgers facing $47.2 million deficit this year; $516 million deficit since joining the Big Ten

From nj.com … Keli Zinn was hired as the Rutgers University athletics director on July 30, about a month after the school’s fiscal year ended. She understood going into the job that Rutgers’ financial struggles have been intensely scrutinized for decades.

After taking over, Zinn quickly dug in and studied the school’s athletics ledger herself.

Her initial impression?

“Regardless how we slice this thing, it’s got to get better,” Zinn said.

That sentiment remains true, with Rutgers’ latest athletics financial report showing its deficit topped $70 million for the third time in five years in 2024-25 after the state university spent a record $193.8 million, documents show.

The report shows $146.6 million in total operating revenues, thanks to a record $61.3 million from the Big Ten for its media rights and $10.7 million from the conference as its share of the league’s Football Bowl revenue fund.

Those gains were offset by an 8.7% increase in Rutgers’ sports spending from the previous year. The highest expenditures included $46.1 million in coaching salaries, $31 million in support staff and administrator salaries, $23.1 million in scholarship aid, $14.4 million in facilities debt, $13.5 million in team travel and $8.4 million in student-athlete meals.

The ledger shows a $47.2 million shortfall. When added to the $7 million subsidized from the school’s general budget, $8 million from the state budget and $15.8 million in student fees, the department’s deficit reached a record $78 million.

It brings Rutgers’ athletics deficit to $516.9 million since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15.

… Continue reading story here …

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Duke and quarterback Darian Mensah making progress to allow Mensah to transfer to Miami

From CBS Sports … Amid a legal fight in a Durham, North Carolina court, there seems to be progress in Darian Mensah’s effort to transfer out of Duke.

The Blue Devils and Mensah’s camp continue to communicate as of Sunday morning and are working to find a resolution to the issue outside of the courtroom, sources tell CBS Sports.

Nothing is done but there is some optimism a resolution could be found before the two sides are scheduled to be back in court on Jan. 29 for a preliminary injunction hearing.

There is some urgency on Mensah’s side to get things done quickly as he’s not currently allowed to enroll at another institution despite being entered into the transfer portal earlier this week.

The court in North Carolina granted Duke a temporary restraining that prevents Mensah from enrolling, playing football at and licensing his NIL to another school through at least Jan. 29.

Mensah’s camp filed an emergency motion for a reconsideration of the temporary restraining order on Jan. 23 arguing for an expedited hearing. The hearing was initially scheduled for Feb. 2 but was moved up following the request from Mensah’s camp.

Duke filed its lawsuit against Mensah on Jan. 20 after the quarterback requested to enter the transfer portal. The Blue Devils allege that Mensah broke his contract by trying to enter the portal and must stay with the program to finish the arbitration process stipulated in the contract that would resolve disputes.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 25th

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Two CU Transfers on ESPN’s Top 100 Players of 2025

From Yahoo Sports … The Colorado Buffaloes and Deion Sanders brought in a 40-plus player transfer portal class to completely overhaul a 3-9 roster.

Two of the players brought in made ESPN’s top 100 players of the 2025 season. Former Bowling Green linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron landed at No. 80 on the list, while San Jose State wide receiver Danny Scudero came in at No. 61.

Scudero led the nation in receiving yards (1,291) while adding 10 touchdowns, leading to him being a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award and a second-team AP All-American. At 5-foot-9, Scudero is one of the smallest receivers in college football but seems like an ideal fit for offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s system.

Lampron was arguably the best Group of Six linebacker as the only FBS player to record at least 100 tackles and at least 15 tackles for loss. He is an elite off-ball linebacker and is a strong candidate to start for the Buffs.

With Lampron and Scudero, Colorado secured two of the best Group of Six players, and both should be huge contributors in 2026.

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January 24th

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Four Big 12 Teams Make ESPN’s Top 25 Transfer Portal List (including Colorado)

From ESPN … College football’s lone transfer portal window for the 2026 season has, for all intents and purposes, closed. Thousands of players entered and programs across the country vigorously filled needs — and in some cases radically overhauled their roster. Even in a condensed two-week window, the movement left behind a wake of change.

Some programs prioritized retention and leaned more heavily on traditional recruiting, a path that can still produce winning results. Regardless of approach, the portal touches every program.

While roster movement isn’t over — players who entered the portal prior to last week’s deadline are still free to sign in the coming days and weeks — the fervor has died down, allowing us to examine which programs best utilized the portal to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season.

From the Big 12 … 

2. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Nailing a transfer portal class can alter the trajectory of a program. Just ask Texas Tech, which dominated the portal in 2025, then reached the College Football Playoff. The Red Raiders were once again among the most prolific teams — and spenders — in 2026. They landed Brendan Sorsby, the top-ranked quarterback on the market. A three-year starter, Sorsby’s track record, improvisational skills and dual-threat athleticism give Texas Tech a higher ceiling than it had with Behren Morton.

The Red Raiders have some work to do to simply maintain their momentum. They need to replace 24.5 combined sacks between pass rushers David Bailey and Romello Height, their leading tackler at linebacker (Jacob Rodriguez) and their leading tackler in the secondary in Cole Wisniewski.

To do so, coach Joey McGuire leaned on a familiar blueprint. The headliner is top-10 transfer Mateen Ibirogba (No. 8), a versatile defensive lineman from Wake Forest, and he’s joined by a pair of ultra-productive Group of 5 defensive ends in Trey White (San Diego State) and Adam Trick (Miami-Ohio). Inside linebacker Austin Romaine comes over from Kansas State, where he had one of his best outings of the year against Texas Tech when he had eight tackles and a sack in Week 10.

12. Arizona State Sun Devils

The college football landscape shifts at a mind-melting pace. Just ask Arizona State. Two years ago, Kenny Dillingham guided the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff. Fast-forward to this offseason, and he was forced to rebuild Arizona State on the fly after his top quarterback (Sam Leavitt, LSU), running back (Raleek Brown, Texas) and receiver (Jordyn Tyson, NFL) all moved on.

To Dillingham’s credit, Arizona State took some big swings in its attempt to replace Tyson’s production. Omarion Miller (Colorado) and Reed Harris (Boston College) were two of the better receivers available. Miller is a deep-ball threat, and Harris, who has a big 6-foot-5 frame, can beat man coverage on the boundary. Both averaged more than 17 yards per catch in 2025.

The Sun Devils’ class hinges on the development of transfer quarterback Cutter Boley, who they hope will fare better with an improved supporting cast and a more level playing field after Kentucky’s offense was outmatched in 2025. If he struggles, Dillingham could also consider turning to his top incoming high schooler, SC Next 300 four-star quarterback Jake Fette.

13. Oklahoma State Cowboys

There are so many new faces in Stillwater that incoming coach Eric Morris may need name tags once everyone reports. But turnover was necessary after Oklahoma State bottomed out in 2025, and the Cowboys will benefit from continuity after their top three additions all arrive via Morris’ North Texas pipeline, which brought more than a dozen Mean Green transfers overall.

Quarterback Drew Mestemaker commands the biggest spotlight after emerging from walk-on obscurity to lead the FBS in passing yards and touchdowns in 2025. His mechanics are unorthodox, but the production speaks volumes and his familiarity with Morris’ offense will help speed up the installation process. Morris also unearthed running back Caleb Hawkins, an explosive runner who led the FBS in rushing touchdowns in 2025 with North Texas, and wide receiver Wyatt Young completes the triumvirate of newcomers at key skill positions.

The best part for Oklahoma State fans? They all arrive with multiple years of eligibility remaining.

17. Colorado Buffaloes

Deion Sanders went back to the portal to fix a Buffaloes roster that went 3-9 in 2025, including just one Big 12 win. Former Texas wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. is the biggest coup, and he reunites with new Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, who recruited him to Texas. Moore is explosive in the open field with a solid track record of production for the Longhorns and should command a significant target share after Omarion Miller departed for Arizona State.

Defensive back Boo Carter made the 2024 SEC All-Freshman team at Tennessee but is in need of a fresh start after being dismissed from the team in Knoxville. He’s an ideal nickel corner with a penchant for forcing turnovers who can also flip the field as a punt returner. Colorado also went back to the Texas transfer pipeline on defense to land Liona Lefau. He was a two-year starter in Austin and a well-rounded linebacker who can be left on the field for all three downs.

… Read full story here …

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January 23rd 

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NCAA approves patches for uniforms (up to two – no more than four square inches)

From ESPN … The NCAA unearthed another revenue stream Friday when Division I leaders approved patches for uniforms in a move that could generate millions to fund athletic departments that are looking for new ways to pay players.

Beginning Aug. 1, Division I teams can place up to two patches of no more than 4 square inches on uniforms for regular-season games. Those are in addition to the logos already allowed for the uniform manufacturers.

Rules committees for the postseason will decide how to handle March Madness, the College World Series and other playoff tournaments, with attention being paid to making sure individual schools aren’t advertising for companies that compete with NCAA sponsors.

The College Football Playoff has also been looking into how to allow patches for that sport’s postseason.

Some NBA teams make eight-figure sums on selling parts of their team uniforms to advertisers. Sports Business Journal reported earlier this month that research has shown college football and basketball teams could earn between $500,000 and $12 million for their patches.

It’s the latest move for schools to help bankroll the $20.5 million in revenue they’re allowed to share with players under new rules that went into play this school year. It comes about 18 months after the NCAA approved allowing schools to place logos on their football fields.

“The Cabinet’s vote today reflects the ongoing commitment of Division I members to drive additional revenues and fully fund” the new player benefits, said Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman, who chairs the Division I rulemaking body.

The NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball have all approved advertising on their uniforms over the past nine years, with the NFL standing as the last major American league to not tap into that revenue stream.

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Report: Jordan Seaton commits to Oregon … and then back to LSU

Earlier today … 

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… Then again, this was last week … 

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College Football Playoff to remain at 12 teams as SEC/Big Ten can’t reach a deal

From ESPN … The College Football Playoff will remain a 12-team field in 2026, the CFP’s management committee announced on Friday.

The decision gives the CFP and conference commissioners additional time to consider the playoff’s expansion to possible a 16- or 24-team format in the future, a move all sides of the discussion could not agree on at this time, with the biggest contention existing between the Big Ten and SEC on the immediate direction of the playoff.

“After ongoing discussion about the 12-team playoff format, the decision was made to continue with the current structure,” said CFP executive director Rich Clark in a statement Friday. “This will give the Management Committee additional time to review the 12-team format, so they can better assess the need for potential change. While they all agree the current format has brought more excitement to college football and has given more schools a real shot in the postseason, another year of evaluation will be helpful.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has publicly supported a 16-team model, but Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti would agree to that only if Sankey committed to a 24-team field after three years, sources told ESPN. Multiple sources have said that’s not something Sankey was ready to do at this time. Although there has been significant support for a 16-team field, staying at 12 was an expected result because of the stalemate that has existed for months between the Big Ten and SEC.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 22nd 

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CBS Sports Way Too Early Top 25: Texas Tech and BYU Again the Favorites

… Oklahoma State loses 64 transfers, and the Cowboys “will rebound”, while CU is in disarray with 37 transfers … 

From CBS Sports … The 2025 college football season, punctuated by Indiana’s historic and thrilling championship win over Miami, earned its place among the best the sport has produced. Parity still hasn’t fully arrived, but chaos certainly has. Out-of-nowhere upsets and unlikely risers kept puncturing the hierarchy, while several of the early-2020s powers like Alabama and Clemson continue to drift back toward the pack.

The season just ended, but most coaches flipped the page to 2026 weeks ago. A record-setting coaching carousel led to 32 new head coaches across the country, igniting another round of transfer-portal turbulence before the window closed last week. Rosters remain unsettled, but the ingredients are on the table waiting to be shaped — and we’re ready to start ranking the best teams.

Plenty of superstars return, too, and some with new homes: Arch Manning returns to Texas, Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt is now with Lane Kiffin at LSU, Oregon’s Dante Moore is bypassing the NFL Draft and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith are back as the best QB-WR duo in the sport.

Everyone wants to know who will be the next Indiana. I’m telling you now: that lightning isn’t striking again in 2026. But a few programs are positioned to surge back into relevance inside their leagues. For example, I’m a firm believer that Oklahoma State will rebound from one of the worst seasons ever to become a challenger in the Big 12 after Eric Morris’ arrival from North Texas.

And that all leads us here.

You’re here to find out who will challenge for supremacy across the national scene. The Big Ten and SEC lead the pack as usual in our way-too-early top 25. But don’t ignore the ACC and the Big 12, which have a handful of teams equipped to chase the national title in 2026.

From the Big 12 …

7. Texas Tech

Might Texas Tech be better in 2026 after its breakthrough season last fall? That’s the word from the Red Raiders’ camp after winning the Big 12 title and losing in a shutout in the second round of the CFP. They signed the nation’s No. 8 portal class, led by Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby — the best QB in the portal. Tech should be the preseason favorite in the Big 12.

12. BYU

The Cougars should be Texas Tech’s primary challengers (again) in the Big 12. The roster is among the most seasoned in the country, and with QB Bear Bachmeier and RB LJ Martin returning, the offense — and the ability to rally from late-game deficits last season — will certainly help next season on the road.

18. Utah

The transition from the Kyle Whittingham era will have its hiccups, but longtime assistant Morgan Scalley steps into a great situation. Four players followed Whittingham to Michigan, but QB Devon Dampeer is back after being named Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year. The majority of Utah’s losses in the portal were not starters, but because of attrition and the eligibility clock, they will replace 17 starters.

21. Houston

“Who’s the next Curt Cignetti?” He’s already here. Houston’s Willie Fritz is a veteran coach who turned Tulane around and led Houston to 10 wins in only its second season as a power conference team. I like the additions of Oregon defensive lineman Ashton Porter, but I especially have my eyes on Oregon running back Makhi Hughes, a former Tulane star. Could be a sneaky riser next season.

Others considered: Arizona State, Boise State, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Oklahoma State

… Read full story here …

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January 21st 

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Duke receives Court injunction barring quarterback Darian Mensah from enrolling at another school 

From ESPN … Duke quarterback Darian Mensah is permitted to enter the transfer portal, but he can’t enroll at another school or play football for another college team before a North Carolina judge rules on Duke’s request for an injunction that would prevent him from leaving.

An injunction hearing is scheduled for Feb. 2 in front of Durham County (North Carolina) Superior Court Judge Ed Wilson. Mensah’s attorney, Darren Heitner, has indicated he would attempt to move the hearing to an earlier date.

Mensah, who signed a multiyear contract with Duke in July 2024 that was believed to be worth $4 million this year, informed Blue Devils coach Manny Diaz that he intended to transfer Friday, the last day the transfer portal was open.

“Mr. Mensah has an existing contract with Duke which the university intends to honor, and we expect he will do the same,” Duke’s athletics department said in a statement Wednesday. “The court-ordered temporary restraining order (TRO) issued yesterday ensures he does not violate his contract. The university is committed to supporting all of our student-athletes, while expecting each of them to abide by their contractual obligations.”

It is believed that Mensah wants to transfer to Miami, where he would replace former starter Carson Beck.

Duke officials sued Mensah in Durham County Superior Court on Tuesday. Judge Michael O’Foghludha ruled from the bench Tuesday, according to Heitner, and denied part of Duke’s request that would have prevented Mensah from entering the transfer portal.

O’Foghludha, a Duke basketball season-ticket holder, recused himself from future proceedings because of the conflict of interest.

Under the terms of Duke’s NIL contract with Mensah, any disputes between the parties must be settled through arbitration. The school said it filed a claim for arbitration Monday and wanted the judge to issue relief until the end of that arbitration process.

“[I]f Mensah is permitted to continue his course of ignoring his contractual obligations and transfer to another school to compete in football and license his NIL rights to that school, Duke University will have no ability to protect its rights in an arbitral proceeding,” the lawsuit said. “Indeed, those rights will be practically worthless if Mensah is allowed to enroll at another collegiate institution, play football there, and relicense his rights.”

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January 20th 

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Five Big 12 Teams in ESPN’s first “Way Too Early” Preseason Top 25

From ESPN … Top-ranked Indiana’s remarkable dream season ended with the Hoosiers defeating No. 10 Miami 27-21 in Monday night’s CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Hoosiers, who became the first FBS program to lose 700 games and had 100-1 odds to win a national title at the start of the season, are the first team to go 16-0 in a season in the modern era.

Not surprisingly, the Hoosiers are No. 1 in the first edition of the 2026 Way-Too-Early Top 25. Coach Curt Cignetti and his staff will have to replace many of their best players, but they’ve proved they can evaluate, develop and coach better than most.

The top five is full of familiar names: Indiana is followed by No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 4 Georgia and No. 5 Oregon.

From the Big 12 … 

No. 7 … Texas Tech … 2026 outlook: After Texas Tech’s No. 1-ranked transfer portal class helped it win its first outright conference title since 1955, the Red Raiders went back into the portal to reload, which figures to happen every season as long as there’s natural gas and oil in the Lonestar State. Sorsby was the biggest pickup, after Tech’s offense flopped in a 23-0 loss to Oregon in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl. 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 linemen, 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.

No. 11 … BYU … 2026 outlook: The Cougars won 11 games or more for the second straight season, and their biggest victory might have been locking up coach Kalani Sitake, who turned down Penn State to remain at his alma mater. The Cougars have a good core of star players — quarterback Bear Bachmeier and tailback LJ Martin lead the way on offense. BYU signed a trio of experienced transfers to shore up its offensive line, and they’ll help open holes for Martin, who led the Big 12 with 1,305 rushing yards in 2025. Two of the top three receivers must be replaced. Defensive coordinator Jay Hill and cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford left to join Kyle Whittingham’s staff at Michigan. Sitake promoted special teams coordinator/defensive ends coach Kelly Poppinga to lead the defense; Boise State’s Demario Warren was hired as cornerbacks coach.

No. 20 … TCU … 2026 outlook: After getting the Horned Frogs back on track this past season, coach Sonny Dykes made big changes. He hired former UConn offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis to replace Kendal Briles, who left for South Carolina. The Huskies had a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver and 1,000-yard rusher for the first time in school history in 2025. There will be less Air Raid elements and more physicality in TCU’s offense under Sammis. Hoover transferred to Indiana, and Dykes plucked Craig from the Ivy League to take over. Last season, Craig passed for 2,869 yards with 28 total touchdowns. Replacing McAlister’s production won’t be easy, but Jordan Dwyer is back and will be the No. 1 receiver. The Horned Frogs open the season Aug. 29 against North Carolina in Dublin, Ireland.

No. 23 … Arizona State … 2026 outlook: The Sun Devils are undergoing a transformation after their star quarterback, tailback, receiver and four of the top five tacklers left. But coach Kenny Dillingham did a nice job rebuilding his two-deep through the transfer portal. Boley played pretty well as a first-time starter at Kentucky this past season, and Miller, Harris and Vines-Bright were three of the top receivers available. Two FCS running backs, Marquis Gillis from Delaware State and David Avit from Villanova, might be sneaky-good additions. Arizona State plays at Texas A&M, Arizona, BYU and Texas Tech this coming season.

No. 25 … Utah … 2026 outlook: First, the good news for new Utah coach Morgan Scalley: He was able to persuade quarterback Devon Dampier to run it back after the junior had 3,325 yards of offense and 34 touchdowns in 2025. Leading rusher Wayshawn Parker also will return. Now, the bad news: Along with losing bookend offensive tackles Spencer Fano and Lomu, who are projected as potential NFL first-round picks, the Utes lost a boatload of assistants and players who followed Whittingham to Michigan. Daley, who had 11.5 sacks in 2025, is a big loss on defense, along with Snowden and Lea’ea. Scalley hired Utah State’s Kevin McGiven as offensive coordinator, and linebackers coach Colton Swan was promoted to take charge of the defense.

… Read full story here …

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January 19th

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Where are they now? (Updated) Jordan Seaton cashes his check; 24 Buffs have found new homes; 13 Buffs are still searching

The Transfer Portal is closed. There are a total of 37 Buffs who entered their names into the Transfer Portal.

To date, 24 have found new homes. Of the 24, all but seven have landed contracts with Power Four teams.

Counting Tawfiq Thomas, who signed with Georgia Tech, CU will face four former Buffs during the 2026 season (the others being Dre’lon Miller, Baylor; Omarion Miller, Arizona State; and T.J. Branch, UCF).

As of January 19th, 13 Buffs who entered the Transfer Portal are still looking for a new school.

Here is the list of Buffs who have found new homes, and their new schools …

• Quarterback Ryan Staub – Tennessee
• Running back Dallan Hayden – Memphis
• Running back/Wide receiver Dre’lon Miller – Baylor
• Wide receiver Omarion Miller – Arizona State
• Wide receiver Terrell Timmons – Memphis
• Offensive lineman Jordan Seaton – LSU
• Offensive lineman Tyler Brown – James Madison
• Offensive lineman Carde Smith – Memphis
• Defensive lineman London Merritt – Clemson
• Defensive lineman Tawfiq Thomas – Georgia Tech
• Defensive lineman McPherson – Penn State
• Defensive lineman Brandon Davis-Swain – Texas A&M
• Defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis – Ole Miss
• Defensive lineman Christian Hudson – Boston College
• Defensive lineman Gabriel Lightfoot – San Diego State
• Linebacker Shaun Myers – Alabama-Birmingham
• Linebacker Mantrez Walker – Alabama-Birmingham
• Defensive back DJ McKinney – Notre Dame
• Defensive back Tawfiq Byard – Texas A&M
• Defensive back John Slaughter – Purdue
• Defensive back T.J. Branch – UCF
• Defensive back Teon Parks – TCU
• Defensive back Carter Stoutmire – Arkansas
• Defensive back Isaiah Hardge – Tennessee

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January 18th 

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Big Ten and SEC remain deadlocked in CFP expansion (16 v. 24 teams)

From CBS Sports … Executives with the College Football Playoff are not expected to make a decision Sunday on whether to expand the format after a lengthy, in-person meeting on the eve of the national championship game, sources told CBS Sports.

The four power conference commissioners met this morning but made no headway in negotiations on whether to expand the 12-team playoff to 16 or 24 teams. The Big Ten and SEC, which control voting power, continue to disagree on the expansion format. The Big Ten prefers 24 teams, while the SEC continues to stick with a 16-team format.

The CFP’s management committee is meeting Sunday afternoon in South Beach for their annual meeting to review the most recent playoff.

CFP leaders have been at an impasse for most of the last calendar year, though every power conference wants to expand the field from 12 teams starting with the 2026 season. ESPN, the CFP’s broadcast partner through 2032, granted playoff executives an extended deadline from Dec. 1 to Jan. 23. It’s possible — but unlikely — that executives agree on an expanded format before Friday, resulting in the postseason tournament remaining at 12 teams.

CBS Sports reported last week that the Big Ten has floated a compromise to the power conferences that would allow a transition period from a 16-team format to a 24-team format. The 16-team field would be temporary, possibly lasting up to three years. The stopgap would buy conferences time to unwind one of the sport’s most complicated obstacles: conference championship games, which are tied up in lucrative and overlapping media rights agreements through at least the end of the decade. The belief is that power conferences would eliminate their conference championship games in the new model.

The power conferences, however, are not yet biting on the Big Ten’s proposal.

The ACC, Big 12 and SEC continue to back a 16-team “5+11” format that guarantees automatic bids to the five highest-ranked conference champions. The roadblock remains the Big Ten and SEC’s controlling interest in CFP decision-making. If the two largest conferences don’t align, the playoff stays at 12 teams.

The Big Ten has strongly favored a 24-team field since August.

The Big Ten has also explored a different version of a 24-team playoff — one with just one automatic qualifier reserved for the highest-ranked Group of Six champion with the remaining 23 teams seeded strictly by CFP Rankings. The thinking is that a largely open field could entice the SEC, sources familiar with the Big Ten’s thinking told CBS Sports.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 16th 

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Where are they now? (Updated) 20 Buffs who entered the Portal still looking for new homes

With the Transfer Portal closing today, there are a total of 38 Buffs who have entered their names into the Transfer Portal:

To date, 19, or half, have found new homes (Jordan Seaton will certainly find a home. We just don’t know where just yet). Of the 19, all but five have landed contracts with Power Four teams.

Counting Tawfiq Thomas, who signed with Georgia Tech, CU will face four former Buffs during the 2026 season (the others being Dre’lon Miller, Baylor; Omarion Miller, Arizona State; and T.J. Branch, UCF).

As of January 16th, 19 Buffs who entered the Transfer Portal are still looking for a new school.

• Running back Dallan Hayden – Memphis
• Running back/Wide receiver Dre’lon Miller – Baylor
• Wide receiver Omarion Miller – Arizona State
• Wide receiver Terrell Timmons – Memphis
• Offensive lineman Tyler Brown – James Madison
• Offensive lineman Carde Smith – Memphis
• Defensive lineman London Merritt – Clemson
• Defensive lineman Tawfiq Thomas – Georgia Tech
• Defensive lineman McPherson – Penn State
• Defensive lineman Brandon Davis-Swain – Texas A&M
• Defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis – Ole Miss
• Defensive lineman Christian Hudson – Boston College
• Defensive lineman Gabriel Lightfoot – San Diego State
• Defensive back DJ McKinney – Notre Dame
• Defensive back Tawfiq Byard – Texas A&M
• Defensive back John Slaughter – Purdue
• Defensive back T.J. Branch – UCF
• Defensive back Teon Parks – TCU
• Defensive back Carter Stoutmire – Arkansas

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January 15th 

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Why coaches settled on nine-game redshirt years instead of “five to play five”

From The Athletic … The 136 FBS coaches can’t agree on much, but the idea of recommending five years to play five years of football had overwhelming support.

Coaches dislike the uncertainty of knowing who on their own rosters will be eligible and pointed to players like Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss and Virginia’s Chandler Morris pursuing a sixth and seventh year of eligibility, pushing through denials, appeals and exploring legal avenues to continue their careers.

A policy nicknamed “five for five” would, on paper, simplify eligibility rules and eliminate the uncertainty. All players would have five years of eligibility, with a five-year window to use it.

“It’s a layup,” said one head coach in the days before around 60 coaches met on the final day of the convention.

Several coaches were hopeful the policy could be discussed, recommended and the debate could quickly move to the calendar.

But making a giant leap from the current eligibility policies — four years, but redshirt opportunities — produced concern, coaches were told, that the NCAA would make itself legally vulnerable in ongoing and future litigation.

NCAA president Charlie Baker addressed that this week with reporters at the NCAA convention in Indianapolis, saying the current rules — five years to play four — have held up in court 70 percent of the time.

“People start talking about five-for-five, six-for-six, seven-for-seven, it doesn’t matter if people aren’t going to comply with the rules,” Baker said, according to Yahoo. “Ninety-five percent of the membership complies.”

It could increase the odds that cases like Chambliss’ would fall in the player’s favor, setting a precedent for others who were not afforded the same five-year opportunities a possible window to pursue litigation against the NCAA.

Ultimately, that turned a layup into a compromise: The coaches recommended softening the redshirt rules, allowing players to appear in up to nine games (regular season or postseason) and use a redshirt, up from four.

That debate, however, left coaches furious that the most pressing issue in the sport – its calendar – was not discussed in the one time a year the coaches gather in the same room. There was some optimism coaches might reach a compromise and offer a recommendation to possibly move the season earlier, but the issue was never broached in the room.

… Read full story here …

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January 13th 

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Coaches vote to adjust redshirt rule to allow nine games during redshirt season

From ESPN … FBS coaches voted unanimously Tuesday to adjust the redshirt rule to allow players to participate in up to nine games while preserving a full year’s eligibility in the sport.

The vote, taken during the annual convention of the American Football Coaches Association, followed extensive discussion over ongoing eligibility concerns.

The current rule allows players to participate in up to four regular-season games plus any playoff games and still maintain their redshirt, effectively allowing four full seasons plus another one-third of a season within a five-year window.

A number of coaches pushed for a more expansive approach — a full five years of playing time in a five-year window. However, concerns about potential litigation in the wake of some controversial eligibility rulings, chief among them Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss — led the group to the nine-game compromise.

Any change would still need approval from the NCAA Division I committee.

About half of the 136 FBS coaches, including Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, attended the meeting. Many had hoped the conversations would include more rigorous debate on the current college football calendar.

Instead, the redshirt rule was the primary topic discussed, according to multiple coaches, with the larger calendar left to a smaller contingent of coaches who met Monday for a discussion outside the AFCA formal agenda.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 12th 

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Welcome to the off-season (and plenty of national stories with negative CU slants)

… Note … With the Transfer Portal moving from blast furnace to simmer, and only one game remaining to close out the 2025 season, the pundits will start turning their attention to the 2026 season. With CU coming off of a 3-9 season, and with multiple questions on the roster, look for more stories to be slanted toward the negative … 

ESPN: Ranking the most disappointing teams of 2025

From regular Buff basher Bill Connelly at ESPN … There are lots of ways to end a season disappointed. Expectations can play a role, of course, but they don’t have to. Sometimes a first-year head coach gets off on the wrong foot, and sometimes a well-established coach loses his footing. Sometimes you start out the No. 1 team in the country, and three losses take you down. Sometimes you start out expecting 3-9 and still fall far short.

Regardless, as we move toward one of the most unexpected and, frankly, thrilling College Football Playoff semifinals imaginable — three first-time semifinalists, two potential first-time national champions, no team that has won a title in the past 24 years — let us first commemorate those who fell short.

A post-2024 funk

 Colorado. In 2024, Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes won nine games, with Travis Hunter winning the Heisman. After losing Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, there was plenty of reason to assume some level of drop-off, but it was far worse than that. The QB position was a disaster, Sanders demoted his offensive coordinator for the second time in three years, and the defense fell far off course. The Buffaloes upset Iowa State in Week 7 and then basically packed it in, losing their last five games by an average of 40-15 to finish 3-9. Sanders faces yet another roster rebuild in 2026, and it’s hard to build optimism about where this is headed.

… Read full story here …

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And … 

CBS: Teams leading in Transfer Portal departures without a head coach change

From CBS Sports … The transfer portal has never moved this fast, or this early. Ten days into the winter window — which opened Jan. 2 and runs through Jan. 16 — 25 Power Four college football programs have already reached the 25-player mark in terms of entries as of Sunday morning. That level of turnover typically takes weeks to accumulate. For perspective, 38 Power Four teams reached that threshold across both portal windows last cycle, a process that stretched 40 total days between winter and spring.

This year’s accelerated pace reflects a shifting reality in college football. Roster decisions are being made earlier, with NIL and rev-share leverage and immediate eligibility compressing timelines for both players and staff. While coaching turnover remains a major driver of mass exits, it no longer explains the full scope of the movement.

Of the 18 Power Four programs with the most departures so far this cycle, 11 experienced a head coaching change. The other seven did not — a group navigating heavy roster churn despite overall staff continuity.

Below is a closer look at those Power Four teams without a coaching change that have seen the highest portal attrition so far during this shortened window, and what those departures actually mean beyond the raw numbers.

Colorado … Deion Sanders’ year-to-year rebuild at Colorado begins again. With 35 players entering the transfer portal already this cycle, the Buffaloes are set for another roster reset — but in Sanders’ model, that’s part of the plan, not a setback.

The defensive backfield has taken the hardest hit. Cornerback DJ McKinney, as well as safeties Tawfiq Byard and Carter Soutmire — three of the most experienced starters — are gone, leaving significant gaps in coverage. Offensively, leading receiver Omarion Miller and several linemen depart, meaning Colorado must replace production as well as depth once again. In total, 13 portal exits logged at least 200 snaps this season with six of those being starters.

For Colorado, the 2026 season will test Sanders’ philosophy again: can a continuous transfer‑first approach build enough cohesion and sustained production to compete in the Big 12?

… Read full story here …

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And … 

ESPN: College Football season in quotes

From ESPN … It’s hard to believe the amount of drama that was packed into the 2025 college football season.

The Lane Kiffin soap opera, in which he was linked to four different jobs while leading Ole Miss to the playoff, was like a miniseries complete with horrible breakups and airport meltdowns. Along the way he trolled Hugh Freeze, who was fired at Auburn. He trolled just about everyone else, too. Then he did an interview at the Oxford airport and scrammed out of town.

Let’s rewind for a bit. Here are the quotes that explain the 2025 college football season.

... Only quotes involving CU … 

Rocky year in Boulder

“Don’t indict us just based on a group of young kids that probably was intoxicated and high simultaneously. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that as well, but the truth is going to make you free. But BYU, we love you.”
— Colorado coach Deion Sanders, after Buffaloes fans chanted “F— BYU” and “F— the Mormons” during the Cougars’ 24-21 win in their first visit to Colorado in 44 years

Fighting for more (Prime) time

“You’ve got the right man. I promise you, you do. And I’m going to prove that to you. Just give me an opportunity and a little more time, and I’m going to prove that to you.”
— Deion Sanders, amid a 3-9 season in which Colorado went 1-8 in the Big 12

… Read full story here …

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January 9th 

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Where are they now? Former Buffs/Quarterback Tracker

Over 30 Buffs have entered the Transfer Portal (with one week still to go before it closes):

To date, eight have found new homes (all in Power Four conferences):

• Cornerback DJ McKinney – Notre Dame
• Defensive lineman London Merritt – Clemson
• Defensive lineman Tawfiq Thomas – Georgia Tech
• Defensive lineman McPherson – Penn State
• Defensive lineman Brandon Davis-Swain – Texas A&M
• Safety Tawfiq Byard – Texas A&M
• Wide receiver Omarion Miller – Arizona State
• Wide receiver Terrell Timmons – Memphis
• Running back Dallan Hayden – Memphis
• Running back Dre’lon Miller – Baylor
• Defensive lineman Christian Hudson – Boston College
• Defensive lineman Gabriel Lightfoot – San Diego State
• Offensive lineman Tyler Brown – James Madison

Meanwhile, if you are having trouble keeping track of the quarterback carousel, here are some of the commits from the Top 50 (in order of 247 Sports rankings):

• Sam Leavitt … Arizona State to LSU
• Brendan Sorsby … Cincinnati to Texas Tech
• Drew Mestemaker … North Texas to Oklahoma State
• DJ Lagway … Florida to Baylor
• Dylan Raiola … Nebraska to Oregon
• Rocco Becht … Iowa State to Penn State
• Josh Hoover … TCU to Indiana
• Kenny Minchey … Notre Dame to Nebraska (for a day) then to Kentucky
• Aidan Chiles … Michigan State to Northwestern (CU plays Northwestern in 2026)
• Aaron Philo … Georgia Tech (CU plays Georgia Tech in 2026) to Florida
• Cutter Boley … Kentucky to Arizona State
• Jaden Craig … Harvard to TCU
• Tayven Jackson … UCF to ??
• Isaac Wilson … BYU to CU
• JC French IV … Georgia Southern to Cincinnati
• Alonza Barnett III … JMU to UCF
• Michael Hawkins, Jr. … Oklahoma to West Virginia
• Hauss Hejny … Oklahoma State to Colorado State
• Walker White … BYU to ??

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January 7th

… Foe Pause … 

Washington may sue departing quarterback for breach of contract

From uwhuskieswire.com … Less than a week after Washington Huskies sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. signed a new contract with the school to be one of the highest-paid players in college football, the first-year starter is now headed to the transfer portal with a do-not-contact designation.

First reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Tuesday evening, the former four-star Basha High School product and standout Big Ten signal-caller confirmed the news in a post shared to his social media that he will depart the school, with his destination rumored to be Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to link up with new Tigers’ coach Lane Kiffin.

“First, I want to thank everyone in the Washington program for everything they have done for me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Husky Nation. I want to give a special thank you to coach Fisch, coach Dougherty, and coach JP [Losman] for believing in me and helping me grow both on and off the field. I also want to thank my teammates for the memories, the hard work, and the relationships we built together. The friendships I’ve made here will last a lifetime, and I’ll always appreciate the time we shared. I also want to thank the fans and the Seattle community for the constant love and support during my time at Washington. I truly enjoyed my time over the past two years, and I’m grateful for all the memories and experiences. I have to do what is best for me and my future. After much thought and prayer, I will be entering the transfer portal,” Williams wrote in a graphic posted on his Instagram at 5:51 p.m. Pacific, sending a reverberating shockwave throughout the college football landscape.

Upon news breaking of Williams’ depature arose the question—and soon after subsequent answer—if UW had any way to enforce the contract he signed last Friday, which would have paid the dynamic quarterback nearly $5 million in 2026, among the highest paid quarterbacks and in the upper echelon of players in the sport, period, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a move away from Seattle.

Based on reports by Thamel and Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger on Tuesday evening the university intends to pursue legal action against Williams, using the blueprint Wisconsin laid out when freshman defensive back Xavier Lucas left for Miami without going through the transfer portal, a new and unique way to circumvent his prior agreement with the Big Ten school in this new age of Name, Image, and Likeness with revenue-sharing between athletes and the institutions they play for.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 3rd

… Foe Pause … 

After $25 million bought zero CFP points, Texas Tech starts over for 2026

From The Athletic … Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton, with tears streaming from red eyes and down his cheeks, provided the lasting visual for the feeling within the Red Raiders locker room.

His coach Joey McGuire began his Orange Bowl postgame news conference by thanking Red Raiders fans for coming along on his team’s ride to a Big 12 championship and 12-win season. Then, he apologized for how it ended: an ugly 23-0 loss to Oregon at Hard Rock Stadium.

“I’m sorry that we let you down,” said McGuire, whose team became the third in the College Football Playoff era to be shut out. “But I hope you’ve enjoyed every second of this year. Man, this is such a special team and I’m so proud of them.”

Texas Tech’s rise from eight wins in 2024 to a dozen and a CFP first-round bye in 2025 was the perfect example of what aggressive spending in the transfer portal can buy you in modern-day college football. Done right, a mid-level program can climb to top of its conference standings and get to the big stage in a short amount of time. The Red Raiders recognized that and poured upwards of $25 million into this year’s roster, making headlines all year as their CFP-or-bust mission paid off.

But getting to the big stage and winning here are two entirely different things.

It was obvious Oregon’s defense presented a step up in class for Texas Tech’s offense, which faced only two other top-40 scoring defenses all season (Utah and BYU, the Cougars twice). In the end, it didn’t matter that the Red Raiders had one of the country’s most explosive offenses, entering the weekend with the second-most plays of 20-plus yards (90) and the largest average margin of victory (31.5 points) in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

The free-agent acquisitions general manager James Blanchard put on the field for defensive coordinator Shiel Wood put Texas Tech on an even playing field with Oregon’s offense. There just wasn’t enough talent put into the Red Raiders offense to give them a fighting chance in this matchup.

“I know stats are a little bit different, but they were rushing for over 200 yards against Big Ten teams and they rushed for 64 yards today,” McGuire said. “I know some of that was in sacks and snaps and stuff like that, but we still did that.”

The Red Raiders will be in the market for a starting quarterback when the transfer portal opens on Friday because Morton is out of eligibility and redshirt freshman Will Hammond is out with an ACL injury he suffered in October. They’re the favorite to land Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby, The Athletic’s top available quarterback who has announced his intention to hit the portal. It’s not necessarily a slam dunk, though. LSU and Miami are also making a push.

Also, quarterback isn’t the only hole on the roster Blanchard needs to fill.

David Bailey, Lee Hunter and Romello Height, the sack masters and pressure creators who transferred in last offseason to elevate the Red Raiders’ defense, all need to be replaced. Jacob Rodriguez, the All-American linebacker who hauled in an armful of postseason individual awards, is off to the pros. So is safety Cole Wisniewski. On offense, left guard Will Jados, right guard Davion Carter and receivers Reggie Virgil and Caleb Douglas are out of eligibility.

But great programs like the one Texas Tech has spent like and aspired to be find ways to reload these days. Indiana went from being just happy to be here last year to the No. 1 seed in the 2025 Playoff. They upgraded at quarterback and are two wins away from a national championship.

Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt walked out of the press room Thursday confident Blanchard and McGuire are going to keep the Red Raiders on the rise. If anything, the taste of this has only added to the hunger to win bigger in Lubbock.

“This was a great season,” Hocutt said. “But I’m pretty sure our guys are going to be really, really busy on the phone when the portal opens trying to make us even better.”

“We’ve got to do better,” McGuire said. “If this is going to be what the College Football Playoff is, then we’ve got to find a way to be better to win that game.”

… Read full story here …

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