The Texas Tech Red Raiders are easily one of the most dangerous teams in the country, not just in the Big 12. In just six weeks of college football, the Red Raiders are looking like clear favorites to win the Big 12. Joey McGuire is having a dream season so far, at this point, he’s playing a hacked version of fantasy football. The Red Raiders are 5-0 and currently ranked No. 10 in the country. This is their first time in the top 10 since all the way back in 2013. They also have the nation’s second-best average margin of victory (37.4 points). 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 good thing is, Cody Campbell is doing it in a legit and transparent way 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.
On October 10, college football insider and Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger hopped onto X with $2.4 billion tea that revealed the University of California’s investment fund (UC Investments) is in advanced talks with the Big Ten Conference about a massive financial deal. The whole idea is that UC Investments would give the Big Ten about $2.4 billion in cash in exchange for owning part of a new business company the conference is forming. In simple finance, the Big Ten would get a big up-front payment to grow its operations, and UC Investments would get a share of whatever profits the league makes in the future. However, this whole thing doesn’t sit well with Mr. Campbell.
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Cody Campbell didn’t hesitate to point out and called 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?”
The Big Ten is trying to become more money-hungry, with powerhouse schools like Michigan, Ohio State, and UCLA exploring new ways and methods to bring in bags (money) as college sports become more commercialized. For this to happen, they need a bunch of fundraisers or capital providers, so 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 is changing. Traditionally, college conferences have always relied on TV contracts, ticket and merch sales, and sponsorships — not direct investment from large funds.
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Campbell questioned whether Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti might personally profit from pushing this deal forward. Campbell said 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.
Finally, Campbell warned that this deal could hurt the entire college sports ecosystem. If major conferences start selling parts of themselves to investors, smaller schools could be left behind, and the focus might shift from education and student-athletes to profits and corporate control. His overall message: this deal might make quick money but could cause long-term damage to college sports as a whole.
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Texas Tech’s 2025 Season Run
When the Big 12’s 2025 season started, not everybody was sold on the Red Raiders. Kansas State and Arizona State were the favorites to win the Big 12. Fast forward to Week 6, and the Red Raiders are one of the few teams still undefeated in the conference. 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 nation, averaging 48.6 points per game. They also hold the top spot nationally in passing offense, averaging 368.5 yards per game through the air.
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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 particularly strong, 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 their home. At this point, there’s nobody in the Big 12 right now who can give the Red Raiders a run for their money.
However, looking ahead, Texas Tech faces a key stretch in their schedule. They will host Kansas on October 11, 2025, before a very interesting 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.
Texas Tech Booster Raises Alarm on Tony Petitti’s $2.4B News Over Transparency and Intent
