Since I can’t help but be me, I did get up early (have to start a load of laundry) and am writing this morning for whatever reason. We did make it back all in one piece and now work awaits.
Conference Realignment
Action Network’s Brett McMurphy:
Since the announcement of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten on June 30, Warren said he has not spoken with Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff. Warren said his office is scheduling a call for him with Kliavkoff after Friday’s Pac-12 media day.
The “historic alliance” announced between the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC didn’t even last a year before the Big Ten raided the Pac-12 for USC and UCLA.
“We’re in a five-year period of transformation,” Warren said. “Just because these are some of the moves on the front end of the transformation, we won’t really know that until we get toward a conclusion. I think over the next couple of years, it will settle down — the movement between conferences. How many are there? How many are not there? The structure will become clear.”
If the Big Ten adds more Pac-12 teams, the Big 12 could pursue Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah from the Pac-12, sources said. Warren said he has developed a close relationship with new Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.
Ironically, both Warren and Yormark’s leagues could take teams from the Pac-12. So, if the Pac-12 were no longer a power league, a key question immediately jumps out: Could the Rose Bowl actually pivot in the future to a Big Ten-Big 12 matchup?
As for Warren’s “five-year transformation period,” he’s unsure how many power conferences will remain.
Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren spoke yesterday to open the Big Ten Media Days and he was not shy about expansion. The article goes on to state that one Big Ten coach thinks the eventual outcome is the Big Ten and SEC sign with either FOX or ESPN and those are the only two conferences and that’s a very real possibility, but I don’t discount that there are other possibilities as well. The Big 12 isn’t that far behind and still pulls really great numbers without Oklahoma and Texas.
Viewers in millions & attendance from last year’s conference title games
SEC 15.3M (Bama-Georgia) 78,030
Big Ten 11.7M (Michigan-Iowa) 67,183
Big 12 8.0M (Baylor-Okla State) 65,771
Pac-12 4.2M (Utah-Oregon) 56,511
AAC 3.4M (Cincinnati-Houston) 37,398
ACC 2.7M (Pitt-Wake) 57,856— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 26, 2022
Baseball
I know there’s been a ton of signings where players have signed with the team they were drafted by. I haven’t kept track, but as always, follow Red Raider Dugout for all roster moves.
Football
Texas Tech announced the Kickoff Luncheon, which will be August 26th at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Admission is free in the general seating area, but you must RSVP a seat and tables of 8 can be purchased for $750.
The Kickoff Luncheon, sponsored by Reliant and its parent company NRG, returns to the Red Raider Club calendar to officially kick off the 2022-23 athletic season. This year, the Red Raider Club is partnering with the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce to produce one large kickoff event for the Lubbock community.
“We are proud to be partnering and combining efforts with the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce to create a community-wide celebration for Coach McGuire’s debut appearance at the Kickoff Luncheon,” said Andrea Tirey, Senior Associate Athletics Director.
Doors open at 11:15 a.m. with the program starting shortly after at 12 p.m. as fans can expect to hear from both McGuire and Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt. It will be the Kickoff Luncheon debut of McGuire, who will lead the Red Raiders for the first time Sept. 3 when Texas Tech hosts Murray State inside Jones AT&T Stadium.
Cole Spencer was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List. Spencer didn’t practice this spring but was integreal to the success of Zach Kittley and Stephen Hamby at Western Kentucky.