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The Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend writes:

"LUBBOCK — Our private tour of Texas Tech’s four-story, cutting-edge football complex paused at seemingly every jaw-dropping bell and whistle, $242 million worth. 

It was nearing 10 p.m., so this Taj Mahal of all college athletics was otherwise deserted and silent — accentuating its opulence, yet also its organic flow and attention-to-detail functionality. 

The tour began at coach Joey McGuire’s office suite and balcony view, high above recently re-christened Galaxy Stadium’s south end zone.  

Ensuing wonders included the state-of-the-art locker rooms; the two-story players’ lounges; 200-seat meeting room; the barbershop with three chairs — Red Raider red, of course. 

Alas, not until the following day, when speaking individually to more than a dozen players, did we learn there are other features in reigning Big 12 champion, but relative upstart, Texas Tech’s blueprint for entrenchment among college football’s elite."

UNIVERSITY PARK — Every offseason, college football coaches like Rhett Lashlee now face the same challenge.

They have to recruit their own roster all over again.

The transfer portal gives players a chance to chase more playing time, more money or a better fit. And for the best players, there is rarely a shortage of programs willing to make a pitch. 

Over the last five years, SMU has been confident its quarterback Kevin Jennings would be back. 

That's because entering his third and final season as SMU’s starting quarterback, Jennings, 22, has proven to possess a trait that can be just as valuable to a college football program as a powerful arm or elite football IQ. 

Loyalty. 

Programs with bigger names and deeper trophy cases came calling with enticing offers, according to his father, Michael Jennings. 

“It’s been all kinds of money — $5 million, $6 million, lake house, all kinds of stuff thrown at him,” he said. “He never wanted to leave SMU. Most kids would’ve left to make more money. Kev just wanted to make a legacy in Dallas.” 

Read the full feature story on Jennings from The Dallas Morning News' Lia Assimakopoulos here.

The Mavs' new-look front office, led by Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz, enters the draft with three picks, headlined by the No. 9 pick in the draft. The Dallas Morning News' Mavericks insider Mike Curtis took a crack at predicting how the NBA draft might play out.