🏅Texas Tech's big money summer

We’ve got it all in this week’s newsletter: Texas Tech’s spending spree, private equity, celebrity GMs and more. 

Let’s jump in and take a look at today’s headlines and links.

— Joan

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The Big 3

Texas Tech pays up, lands another huge recruit

Edge rusher LaDamion Guyton, the No. 2 prospect in the 2027 recruiting class, committed to Texas Tech — and he’s expected to receive a three year-deal worth up to $3.5 million. 

The Red Raiders have been on a spending spree lately, putting their prolific budget to use. In July, they signed offensive tackle Felix Ojo, one of the top recruits in Texas in the class of 2026, to a three-year deal worth more than $5 million. It’ll be fascinating to see if these big contracts pay off; Texas Tech hasn’t had double-digit wins since 2008, but it’s made bowl games the past four seasons. Curious to read more about the Red Raiders’ stocked wallet? The Athletic went deep with a feature earlier this week.

The Big Ten is still flirting with private equity

Back in January, Sportico reported that the Big Ten retained an investment bank to solicit bids from private equity firms — a fascinating development for a conference that’s one of the revenue leaders in college sports. Since then, there haven’t been a ton of updates — until this week, when the Athletic wrote a pretty in-depth update. 

“Our membership has made clear that modernizing how conference offices work and function on behalf of their members needs to change as we get into this next world,” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti told the Athletic.

The piece dives into the potential complications a private equity deal could face, given that public universities are state entities. It also looks closely at the Big Ten’s finances.

Meet Weber State men’s basketball’s new GM — you may have heard of him

Damian Lillard, the star NBA point guard, is going back to college — to his alma mater, Weber State, to be its basketball general manager. It’s a position that didn’t exist just a few years ago but has gained massive prominence — and importance — as NIL and now revenue sharing have begun. In a release, the school wrote that Lillard “will work closely with the coaching staff and athletic department leadership to provide insight, mentorship, and guidance, using his experience at the collegiate and professional levels to elevate the program.”

Lillard re-signed with the Portland Trail Blazers last month. He played the first 11 seasons of his career with the Blazers before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023. An injury to his left Achilles tendon may keep him out for the entire upcoming season — giving him all the more time to devote to his new gig.

NIL BLITZ

♦️ The 1983 N.C. State men’s basketball team filed a lawsuit requesting NIL compensation. A federal judge dismissed it.

♦️ Sportico wrote about the immigration lawyer at the forefront of helping schools structure contracts with international athletes.

♦️ Mike Gundy has a plan to fix college football.

♦️ In the first year high school athletes in North Carolina could receive NIL compensation, one received a $1.2 million deal.

♦️ Stanford hired former Nike CEO John Donahoe as its new athletic director.

♦️ Who runs college football — the SEC, the Big Ten or Congress?

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

If you were a college athlete, would you have trouble sharing a locker room with players who made 100 times as much as you?

• Yes - 46%

• No - 13%

• Only if the team were losing - 8%

• Only if the high-paid players weren’t contributing - 33%