What’s going on in the Big 12 and beyond? I expand and explain every Sunday in Postscripts at Heartland College Sports, your home for independent Big 12 coverage.
This week, let’s break down Texas Tech’s latest financial outlay, why hypothetical trades don’t matter and it’s time for media days.
Felix Ojo is Texas Tech’s $5 Million Man
Texas Tech celebrated July 4 by getting a commitment from a five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo. It’s the kind of thing Tech isn’t known for. To many recruiting services, Ojo is the highest-rated commitment Tech has ever landed.
But what made more news of course was the NIL money attached to Ojo’s commitment. Here’s how it was originally reported on social media by outlets like On3Sports.
Well, that’s a lot of money. Some social media users made a good point. That amount is more than some NFL draft picks make on a four-year rookie deal, including Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. He received $4.6 million from the Cleveland Browns.
But, as always, the devil is in the details. There was no context to the graphic. Reporters — who I’m sure were oh so thrilled to work on Independence Day — were on the case.
Turns out there is money attached, but it’s not “exactly” $5.1 million.
Eli Lederman at ESPN reported that the deal was a fully guaranteed, three-year, $5.1 million revenue share contract. He got that information from Ojo’s agent, Derrick Shelby, who just happens to be the same agent for Texas Tech softball star NiJaree Canady.
Not long after that, CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah, reported that the guaranteed revenue share amount was about “half that amount.” He also reported there were stipulations in the deal that would allow it grow to the full amount.
On3Sports’ Pete Nakos had the full breakdown shortly. Ojo would get $1.2 million his first year, followed by $1.6 million in Year 2 and $2.1 million in Year 3. He also confirmed that the guaranteed amount is roughly half the total amount. He reported the contract “actually pays” $775,000 per year.
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz also reported the same amount per year as an average. He also reported there was an understanding between Tech and Ojo’s representatives that the deal could be renegotiated if NIL returns to the “Wild West” format.
So a few things here:
First, for highly regarded recruits, this could be the norm. I was skeptical that he was getting a fully guaranteed deal, and that doesn’t appear to be the case. This feels like a typical NFL deal — a base salary with incentives that can be reached over time. The incentives become guaranteed as they get triggered.
Second, I must assume one of those incentives is staying at Tech. I think coaches, fans and collectives are tired of the year-over-year churn. Multi-year deals are going to be used more often, with triggers tied to staying multiple years, baseline grade-point averages and other factors.
Third, I found Zenith’s report about NIL returning to the “Wild West” curious. As long as the NIL money in this deal is coming from a third party, it won’t count against the rev share. If it’s a direct payment from the school, it does. I do think NIL will revert back to a “Wild West” format at some point as I don’t believe it’s controllable. But that would be a weird way to approach the future contract if you’re the player’s agent.
Last, as I wrote two weeks ago, enough with the pearl-clutching. Tech has money. It’s using it. Recruits know it. That’s why they’re interested. This is the world. Move on.
A Big 12-ACC Trade?
Earlier this week, a reader for the mailbag answered by The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel posed a question about a trade between conferences. In the reader’s eyes, the Big 12 could trade UCF, Cincinnati and West Virginia to the ACC for Cal, Stanford and SMU.
Mandel loved the idea and said it made “too much sense.” Our Pete Mundo wrote about it. We even conducted a poll.
You were not warm to the idea.
Hypotheticals are fun, but …
When I posed the WVU to ACC hypothetical a few years ago many WVU fans told me the ACC didn’t want them. It probably still doesn’t.
Stanford and Cal don’t want any part of the Big 12. Those two schools, in my opinion, will go it alone before joining.
SMU wanted in, but the Mustangs are a redundancy in the DFW market and for the Big 12 and didn’t add anything, in part because the area isn’t a college sports area. If DFW were a huge college sports area that would be another story. But the area is wrapped up in pro sports and for those that live here, they know that.
I mean, yes, if someone with realignment and can just wave a magic wand, sure. But there is no reality to this. Unless everyone wants to play with the same bucket of TV money like the NFL, something like this won’t happen.
Big 12 Media Days Return
It’s talking season this week in Frisco, Texas, as I’ll be covering Big 12 Media Days for Heartland College Sports. It’s the official kickoff of the Big 12 football season.
It’s a week we look forward to because it allows us to start getting a little less hypothetical in coverage and a little more actual. Like I can’t wait for someone to Kalani Sitake who is going to start at quarterback at BYU, or to ask Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire when the NIL budget for the Red Raiders actually looks like (like he’s gonna tell us).
Should be good times. Follow us all week. After media days I’m getting some vacation, my annual trip to Red Rocks in Colorado to see The Avett Brothers. Then, much more football.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
