“I think this conference is really strong. There are a lot of teams that have an opportunity to make a statement. We’re planning on being one of them,” Joey McGuire said in July. In just six weeks of college football, the Texas Tech Red Raiders look like clear favorites to win the Big 12 nowadays. At this point, he’s playing a hacked version of fantasy football – all thanks to the Matador Club’s frontman, Cody Campbell, and his oil money.

As long as oil barrel prices stay between $60 and $80, the Red Raiders should be fine. The silver lining is that Cody Campbell is doing it legitimately and transparently and wants everybody else to be transparent, too. However, when news of the Big Ten and Tony Petitti’s $2.4 billion potential partnership with private equity broke, Cody Campbell questioned Tony Petitti’s integrity.

Cody Campbell didn’t hesitate to point out and call for transparency: “It would be very interesting to know (and somebody should directly ask) how much money Tony Petitti will personally make from this @bigten Private Equity deal — both in the immediate term and over the course of the extended grant of rights. Big Ten members (and all of college football) should know the exact amount. The answer should be ‘Zero Dollars,’ and maybe it is?”

On October 10, college football insider and Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger hopped onto X with $2.4 billion tease. He disclosed that the University of California’s investment fund (UC Investments) is in advanced talks with the Big Ten Conference about a massive financial deal, worth about $2.4 billion in cash, in exchange for equity in a new business company the conference forms. The Big Ten would get a big up-front payment to expand its operations in simple finance terms. Likewise, the UC Investments would get a share of whatever the league’s future profits. This whole thing doesn’t sit well with Cody Campbell.

The Big Ten is trying to become more profit-driven, with powerhouse programs like Michigan, Ohio State, and UCLA exploring new ways and methods to bring in greens as college sports become more commercialized. For this to happen, they need a bunch of fundraisers or capital providers. Therefore, private equity or other outside investors buying into a college sports league is very unusual and signals how much the business side of college athletics continues to evolve. College conferences have traditionally relied on TV contracts, ticket and merch sales, and sponsorships – not direct investment from significant funds. Now, that’s a whole different ballgame.

Campbell questioned whether Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti might personally profit from pushing this deal forward. Campbell articulated that the public and Big Ten members deserve to know exactly how much, if anything, Petitti would earn from it. In his view, the correct answer should be “zero dollars,” because conference leaders are supposed to act in the best interest of the schools and athletes, not themselves.

With billion-dollar investment talks underway, smaller schools nationwide watch nervously. Cody Campbell warns that if major conferences sell stakes to investors, the entire college sports ecosystem could face serious consequences. His overall message is that this deal might make quick money but could cause long-term damage to college sports. With all the outside noise going on, the Red Raiders have rampaged through the 2025 season, on the other hand.

Inside the Texas Tech Red Raiders’ 2025 Campaign

Not everybody was sold on the Red Raiders when the Big 12’s 2025 season commenced. Everyone put their bets on Kansas State and Arizona State to win the whole thing. Fast forward to Week 6, and the Red Raiders are one of the few teams still undefeated in the conference. Yes, some say they had an easy schedule, but the offense is absolutely eating.

They currently lead the nation in total offense with 568.8 yards per game. Texas Tech’s scoring offense ranks second in the country, averaging 48.6 points per game. They also hold the top spot nationally in passing offense, averaging 363.8 yards per game through the air.

According to KCBD, through their first five games, they have allowed a total of 56 points, which is the fewest allowed in the first five games of a Texas Tech season since 1946. Their defense has been robust, even shutting out Houston in the second half of their recent 35-11 victory. They also went on a road game against Kyle Whittingham’s Utah, and humiliated them at home. At this point, nobody in the Big 12 right now can give the Red Raiders a run for their money.

However, looking ahead, Texas Tech faces a key stretch in its schedule. They will host Kansas on October 11, 2025, before an exciting matchup against Arizona State on October 18, 2025. Experts like Joel Klatt see Texas Tech as a strong contender to win the Big 12 and potentially make a push for the College Football Playoff.