Texas Tech enters the 2025 season with high expectations. Armed with an explosive offense and a much-needed upgrade on defense
BY: KENNY VARNER
Texas Tech enters the 2025 season with high expectations. Armed with an explosive offense and a much-needed upgrade on defense, the Red Raiders are poised to challenge for a spot in the Big 12 title game. While Texas Tech has flashed potential in recent years, the program has yet to deliver that long-awaited breakout season. With five returning starters on offense and seven on defense, this could finally be the year.
The offense is loaded and deep, putting the onus on the defense to elevate the team from a solid seven-win campaign to a legitimate Big 12 contender. While the schedule presents its share of challenges, this is not a conference where going undefeated is a requirement to reach the title game.
Last season, Texas Tech racked up a staggering 6,015 yards of total offense and averaged 37.6 points per game—ranking fourth nationally. Quarterback Behren Morton returns as one of the Big 12’s top signal-callers after throwing for 3,335 yards with a 63.3% completion rate and a 27-to-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
As always, the Red Raiders boast talent at the receiver position. Returning are the team’s second and third leading receivers, Caleb Douglas (60 catches for 877 yards and 6 touchdowns) and Coy Eakin (49 catches for 652 yards and a team-high 7 touchdowns). The group is deep once again, with an 800+ yard receiver from Miami University transferring in—he averaged 20 yards per catch and brings big-play potential. Terrance Carter, who had 48 receptions at Louisiana, also joins the fold.
Replacing running back Tahj Brooks and his 1,505 yards and 17 touchdowns won’t be easy, so the Red Raiders will likely go with a running-back-by-committee approach early on. J’Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey return after limited action, while USC transfer Quinten Joyner is expected to make an immediate impact.
Up front, center Sheridan Wilson and guard Davion Carter return from a solid offensive line. The transfer portal brought additional help, with tackle Howard Sampson (North Carolina) expected to become a star. Hunter Zambrano (Illinois State) and Will Jados are also strong additions to a line that looks to remain a strength.
The defense, however, remains the biggest obstacle between Texas Tech and a championship-caliber season. Last year, the unit surrendered 35 points and 460 yards per game—numbers that must improve. Despite returning seven starters, the Red Raiders aggressively hit the portal after finishing 99th in sacks and a dismal 132nd in pass defense.
E’Maurion Banks is the lone returning starter on the defensive line, prompting an influx of transfers. David Bell (Stanford) and Romello Height (UTEP) should bolster the edge rush. AJ Holmes (Houston), Skyler Gill (Northern Illinois), and Lee Hunter (UCF) bring added talent to a line that should be improved over last year’s unit.
At linebacker, Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts return after combining for 210 tackles, anchoring the heart of the defense. In the secondary, Mississippi State transfer Brice Pollock should make an immediate impact at corner, while North Dakota State’s Cole Wisniewski adds depth and skill at safety. AJ MacCarth and Chapman Lewis return but could face competition to retain their starting jobs. There are still questions about the defense, but the staff hopes to have uncovered some gems in the transfer market.
Texas Tech has a Big 12-caliber offense that could carry them into the conference title game. But if recent history is any indication, the defense may again be the Achilles heel, leading to high-scoring shootouts. There is hope, though, as the influx of talented transfers offers the potential for real improvement. If the defense can simply move into the middle tier of the Big 12, this team could have a special season.
A soft non-conference schedule gives Texas Tech a good shot at a 3-0 start, which would help build momentum. Tough road games at Utah, Arizona State, and Kansas State loom large, but even a two-loss Big 12 team can earn a title game berth. While it’s difficult to predict whether the Red Raiders will finally step up and have that breakthrough year, they should be an entertaining team to watch once again. Expect a season in the 7-8 win range—with the potential for more if the defense finally holds up its end.
Golf fans are getting a rare December treat as the Optum Golf Channel Games make their primetime debut tonight on Golf Channel and USA Network, beginning with a pre‑game show at 7 p.m. ET. This first‑of‑its‑kind, made‑for‑television event brings together the sport’s two biggest stars—Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler—as captains of four‑man teams competing under the lights at Trump National Golf Club Jupiter in Jupiter, Florida. Designed specifically for TV, the Games blend speed, pressure, and entertainment, offering a fresh twist on golf’s traditional offseason exhibitions. With a mix of power challenges, precision contests, and team‑based strategy, the event aims to deliver a fast‑paced, viewer‑friendly primetime show unlike anything else in the sport.
The competition format features five unique skills challenges, each crafted to test different aspects of the players’ games while keeping the action moving quickly for viewers. The Timed Drive Competition pits players in head‑to‑head duels with only two minutes to combine power and accuracy into a scoring grid. The Timed Short Game Competition raises the pressure even further, requiring players to chip and putt from multiple locations before navigating a putting gauntlet—all in just three minutes.
One of the night’s most anticipated segments is the 14‑Club Challenge, where two‑man teams share a single bag and must use each club only once in a closest‑to‑the‑pin showdown. The twist: each team must also designate a player to hit a left‑handed 15th shot. The Team Relay adds a race‑against‑the‑clock element, with four players alternating shots across four holes. Finally, the Captains’ Challenge brings McIlroy and Scheffler together in a one‑on‑one showdown featuring irons, wedges, bunker shots, and pressure putts from 10 and 30 feet.
A Star‑Studded Broadcast Team and Production Crew
Tonight’s broadcast features a deep roster of on‑air talent. Keith Mitchell joins longtime Golf Channel voice Steve Sands for booth commentary. On the course, Smylie Kaufman, Brad Faxon, and Johnson Wagner will provide real‑time insight and player interviews. Wagner will also join Anna Jackson for pre‑ and post‑game studio coverage, while rising golf media personality Kai Trump contributes tutorials and participates in the trophy ceremony.
Behind the scenes, Emmy‑winning producers Mark Loomis and Chris Maguire, along with director Jeff Jastrow, lead the production team, working in partnership with PGA TOUR Studios, EverWonder Studio, and producer Bryan Zuriff to bring this innovative event to life.
Former world champion turned promoter Amir Khan and Dr. Ezekiel Adamu have officially teamed up with Detty December, West Africa’s biggest month-long cultural festival, to deliver a historic Heavyweight Double Header set for Sunday, December 21, 2025.
Former world champion turned promoter Amir Khan and Dr. Ezekiel Adamu have officially teamed up with Detty December, West Africa’s biggest month-long cultural festival, to deliver a historic Heavyweight Double Header set for Sunday, December 21, 2025. The show will now take place at the Detty December Festival Grounds in Lagos and forms part of the official Detty December lineup, joining a star-studded calendar that features Gunna, Busta Rhymes, and some of the season’s most anticipated concerts, carnivals, and parties. This electrifying night of boxing, broadcast live worldwide on DAZN, will showcase Nigeria’s finest talents and mark a landmark moment for African boxing.
●Former two-weight world champion Lawrence Okolie’s first professional fight in Africa. He collides with Ghanaian powerhouse Ebenezer Tetteh in a heavyweight headline attraction.
● Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka returns to action against seasoned German contender Patrick “Big Patrick” Korte in a ten-round showdown.
● UK fan favorite Elvis Ahorgah takes on Harley Benn, son of boxing legend Nigel Benn and brother of Conor Benn, in a compelling clash of styles at 168lbs.
CEO of Balmoral Group Promotions, Dr Ezekiel Adamu, said of the fight:
“This card is here to make astatement. Africa is ready to host the biggest nights in world boxing, and Chaos In The Ring II isProof.”
Former World Champion turned promoter, Amir Khan, said:
“I’ve fought all over the world, but this Lagos card is special. Okolie headlining Africa for the first time, Tony Yoka bringingheavyweight fire, Harley Benn stepping up to the big stage, and Detty December behind us –We’re giving fans a night they’ll never forget.”
Two-weight world champion and WBC number one heavyweight contender, Lawrence Okolie (22-1, 16 KOs), headlines in his first professional fight on African soil. The 33-year-old, born in London to Nigerian parents, captured the WBO cruiserweight title in 2021 with a sixth-round KO of Krzysztof Glowacki and successfully defended it multiple times before picking up the WBC bridgerweight world title on his road to heavyweight.
Known for his devastating power, Okolie will look to put on a statement performance fighting for family legacy in Lagos as the number one ranked WBC contender continues his quest to become a three weight world champion in 2026. His opponent, the durable Ghanaian veteran Ebenezer Tetteh (23-3, 20 KOs), who recently went seven gritty rounds with British heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte in a brutal slugfest, promises a heavyweight war of attrition.
Lawrence Okolie, number one ranked heavyweight contender, said:
“Fighting in Lagosmeans everything to me. This is where my family is from. This is the dream. On 21 December,under the Detty December lights, I’m putting on a show you won’t forget.”
In the co-main event, towering heavyweight contender Tony Yoka (14-3, 11 KOs) brings Olympic pedigree and elite size to Lagos as he aims to climb back into world title contention. The 33-year-old French southpaw exploded onto the global stage as a decorated amateur, winning gold in the super-heavyweight division at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, securing France’s first Olympic boxing gold in that weight class.
Standing across from him is German veteran Patrick “Big Patrick” Korte (23-5-1, 19 KOs), a seasoned competitor out of Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, whose rugged, orthodox style and high knockout percentage have earned him respect across the European heavyweight ranks. Korte has faced a variety of tough opponents and brings veteran grit to this ten-round showdown under the Detty December lights.
More Top Level Fights on the Night
Adding fireworks to the undercard, super middleweight warrior Elvis Ahorgah (15-4, 13 KOs), the Ghanaian “Soldier” who has become a UK cult hero after his valiant late-notice stand against unbeaten Callum Simpson where he pushed the Barnsley star before a fifth-round stoppage and a gritty points defeat to Tyler Denny earlier this year, faces the rising Harley Benn (9-2, 1 KO). Benn, carrying the weight of boxing royalty as the son of two-division world champion Nigel Benn and brother to Conor Benn, who electrified Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a stunning unanimous decision upset over Chris Eubank Jr in their epic rematch, seeks to forge his own legacy in this clash of styles.
Hot prospect Shiloh Defreitas (6-0, 3 KOs), the slick London southpaw with Olympic dreams behind him, puts his unbeaten run on the line against Taye Fajimi (10-0, 4 KOs), a rugged challenger who looms as a dangerous test for the undefeated Defreitas in front of a raucous Lagos crowd.
Further action comes in the form of two all-Nigerian six-round clashes, as Basit Adebayo (9-0, 4 KOs) collides with experienced contender Sikiru Shogbesan (23-3-1, 10 KOs), Nigeria’s #1-ranked lightweight, in a bout guaranteed to bring fireworks from the opening bell, while the always-game Isaac Chukwudi (5-3-1, 3 KOs) faces the heavy-handed Raheem Animashaun (18-0, 12 KOs) in a matchup set to ignite the Lagos crowd with local rivalry and relentless action.
Finally, in a four-round contest showcasing emerging female talent, Nene Joy Ojo (2-1, 2 KOs)steps into the ring against Sandra Darkwah Boateng (5-0), adding another layer of excitement to an already stacked night of boxing.
Chaos In The Ring II will be promoted by Balmoral Group Promotions, AK Promotions,and Queensberry Promotions. The event will be broadcast worldwide live on DAZN.
Scheffler’s relentless style and mental toughness drew comparisons to legends like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
For the first time in three years, the PGA Tour chose not to release the voting percentages after Scottie Scheffler secured the Jack Nicklaus Award as the tour’s best player. The silence immediately echoed Scheffler’s own memorable line from his British Open soliloquy: What’s the point?
The outcome was never in doubt. Much like Tiger Woods dominating 10 of his 11 Player of the Year campaigns, Scheffler’s season left little suspense. His victories carried the same inevitability as his major championship performances, where he has walked up the 18th hole with a lead of at least four shots in all four of his major wins.
Rory McIlroy’s Historic Moment Still Shines
Yet the season wasn’t without drama. Rory McIlroy delivered one of the most emotional and significant moments in modern golf when he captured the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam. His final‑round charge at Augusta National instantly joined the pantheon of great Masters finishes.
For McIlroy, it was the best year of his golfing life — a season defined not by awards, but by fulfillment. He leaves 2025 wholly satisfied, even if Scheffler’s statistical dominance overshadowed the trophy count.
The Numbers Behind Scheffler’s Supremacy
When it comes to determining the “best golf,” numbers rarely lie. And Scheffler’s numbers this season were staggering. His consistency bordered on historic, his scoring averages dipped into rare territory, and his ability to stay in contention week after week separated him from the field.
While the PGA Tour opted not to reveal how lopsided the voting was, the statistical record speaks loudly enough. Scheffler didn’t just win — he overwhelmed.
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