It’s scoop time, folks! Yes, the college football world nowadays has its eyes only on their stars’ 2025 NFL Draft stocks. However, besides that, something else seems to have gained momentum. That’s the inside story of the transfer portal. After all, it has been a tug-of-war kind of situation as programs fight to land their favorite stars. Now you know what comes with landing the top recruits, right? 

The six-figure, seven-figure NIL deals. So, it’s more like a competition of who dished out the fat cheque leaf fast. That’s when the lights fall on the Big 12 and Joey McGuire’s program, Texas Tech Raiders. Sadly, this did not sit well with the Texas Tech fans, who rejected the expose downright. 

Red Raiders breaking into the big spender club

The beginning of the 2025 season has been pretty chaotic. After all, players fell like dominoes, hopping from one visit to the next. That’s when the NIL came as the big weapon to flip the narrative. However, a notion prevailed. And what is it? College football’s traditional powers have always hated seeing non-brand-name programs try to jump up and join the contender party. Yes, the NIL could not change the mindset. On that note, McGuire’s Raiders caught a lot of side eyes. Now, a Big 12 school challenging the NIL dominance of the SEC and Big Ten? That’s a surprise.

On February 13, Transfer Portal posted a screenshot of On3’s graphic. It read, “Teams who spent the most money on their portal class.” There were five teams: Hugh Freeze’s Auburn Tigers, Sherrone Moore’s Michigan Wolverines, Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels, Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns, and McGuire’s Texas Tech. The caption had the quote from SEC Personnel Staffer: “In theory, Tech f- – -ed up the market for everybody.”

Another SEC NIL Collective too hinted how McGuire’s move came off as a big surprise. “Traditional big brands like Tennessee, Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, too. They’re going to spend at the top of the market year in and year out. That wasn’t news to me because those guys are always going to spend. What was news to me was the next rung of schools that had not been extra-successful and spent a ton of money, like Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, and Texas Tech.” That’s how Texas coming as heavy was out of the syllabus. The fans got too protective about the Raiders and dismissed the claim.  

Texas Tech fans in denial over Joey McGuire’s big transfer portal budget

Now, the desperation of Texas has been real. After all, last season they finished 8-5 and were seventh in the Big 12 conference. So, this time, they would probably not be willing to take any further chances. In an attempt to reel in the best talent, they did not compromise with the cost of bolstering its roster. Going by the leads, Cody Campbell, a Texas Tech University System Board of regents member, thought that the Raider would stick to $5 million. Fortunately or unfortunately, they have crossed the mark. But the fans are not going to admit it. 

One of them had quoted another platform’s data, “Hayes Fawcett- Texas only signed 5 Portal Players and 1 was a punter.” But as per the On3 reports, 17 players have transferred in. Another fan too had shared their disbelief claiming, “Dawg we have 5 portal players who wrote this 😭😭.”  The figure that’s doing rounds is enough to leave you in shock.

As per the reports, McGuire and the Raiders spent $10 million. But the Raiders fans are in no mood to divert from their stand. Rather one of them got upset and commented, “An anonymous SEC staffer doesn’t know s— quit posting random hearsay.”

Maybe McGuire and Co. is moving too silently when it comes to the transfer portal that the fans are unaware. Yet another fan claimed it to be false facts and stuck to the number 5, “This is literally just misinformation lmao. Texas signed 5 players 😭😹.” 

A protective fan took former Red Raiders’ WR Micah Hudson’s name who had committed to Texas A&M. However, looks like he is looking for a change. Now, this fan doubts that the insider might count on him making a return to McGuire’s program. That’s what makes him an Aggies fan: “If anyone here saw the micah hudson package, you know this “insider” is prob an aggie who doesn’t want to tell the truth.” Can’t wait to see whether the big dollar cheques bring glory or it becomes just burnt cash.