Texas Tech’s push to keep Donovan Atwell in the fold just hit a snag.
On Friday morning, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit granted a stay in a Colorado lawsuit that had previously handed out an extra year of eligibility to players who ran through their four years between 2022 and 2026. That earlier injunction had applied broadly to the signing class of 2022, giving out-of-eligibility players another season even if they hadn’t filed their own individual case.
That part has now changed. Under the latest ruling, only athletes who are specifically named in a separate lawsuit or injunction can claim the fifth year. For Texas Tech, that still covers transfer additions Darrion Williams and Jamichael Stillwell.
Atwell is in a different spot. Because he has not filed a lawsuit on his own behalf, his status is tied to the Colorado case that provided the blanket relief to 2022 athletes. With that stay in place, he is technically not eligible to play in the 2026-27 season for now.
The situation is far from finished, though. An appeal hearing is still coming, and the Red Raiders have reason to believe the end result could still break their way given the NCAA’s history of losing major court fights. There’s also another path: Atwell could file as a co-plaintiff and have his case reviewed individually, just as Williams and Stillwell did.
If Texas Tech does get Atwell back, the payoff is obvious.
He’s one of the better shooters in college basketball and would give Grant McCasland’s team another dangerous weapon from deep. He’s also a better defender than he gets credit for, which only adds to his value. Last season, Atwell averaged 13.5 points per game and shot 45% from three, a ridiculous number that speaks for itself.
And his impact wouldn’t stop there. Atwell spent a year in McCasland’s program, so he brings the kind of leadership that matters even more on a roster welcoming seven players who have never played for this coach before.
He also gives Texas Tech some useful size. Atwell is two inches taller than Cruz Davis and four inches taller than Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, and that length could matter when he’s chasing the other team’s top guard around the floor.
Even without him, McCasland has built a strong roster. Davis and Gibbs-Lawhorn both averaged more than 20 points per game last season and each shot 40% or better from three. But if Atwell is cleared for 2026-27, the Red Raiders start looking like a true Final Four threat, especially if JT Toppin can return to full health after tearing a ligament in his knee in February.
Texas Tech can still be dangerous without Atwell. With him, the ceiling gets a lot higher.
In Other News...
Former BC Quarterback Suddenly Has One More Twist In His Career
Thomas Castellanos has suddenly been handed a path to one more college football season, a development that could matter in Lubbock as Texas Tech continues shaping its quarterback room. A judge granted an injunction allowing him to enter the transfer portal and play a fifth season, a ruling tied to a lawsuit challenging NCAA eligibility rules that has opened the door for athletes from the high school class of 2022 to return for another year.
For Texas Tech, the timing makes Castellanos a name worth tracking as the offseason unfolds. He is expected to transfer to the Red Raiders, but the larger picture is still in motion because the NCAA has appealed the decision, leaving the eligibility question unresolved even as the portal window offers a fresh possibility. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Techs Mahomes Uniform Push Is Raising A Bigger Identity Debate
Texas Techs recurring uniform partnership with Patrick Mahomes and Adidas has become more than a one-off promotional idea. Over the past three seasons, the school has used the collaboration to roll out alternate football jerseys, tying one of its biggest athletic alumni to a look that now feels like part of the Red Raiders broader brand. The 2024 edition, dubbed the Lets Ride jersey, is a solid-black design with Mahomes signature wordmark on the helmet, and it is set to make its debut on Sept. 18 at home against Houston.
The release also underscores a bigger question about where the line sits between tradition and modern marketing in college football. For Texas Tech, the Mahomes connection has been a reliable way to generate buzz and keep the program in the spotlight, but the fact that it keeps returning as a centerpiece of the uniform conversation says plenty about how the Red Raiders are choosing to present themselves. As the latest alternate gets its first run, the real issue is not whether it will draw attention. It is how much of Texas Techs identity is now being shaped by this annual crossover. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Could Have A New Quarterback Option To Watch
A fresh eligibility ruling has opened a narrow transfer window for 13 players, and Texas Tech is among the programs keeping a close eye on it. Joey McGuire said the Red Raiders are monitoring the situation, and quarterback Tommy Castellanos has quickly emerged as a name to watch as the portal clock starts ticking.
For Texas Tech, the appeal is obvious: the room already has Will Hammond, Kirk Francis and Lloyd Jones III, but adding another experienced arm could change the competition in a hurry. Castellanos is expected to draw plenty of interest, and the Red Raiders look positioned to be part of that conversation if he moves on quickly. [Read more 🡒]