Texas Tech’s first loss of the season brought an immediate and pointed response from one of the program’s biggest backers.
Cody Campbell, the Red Raiders mega-booster who has become a major figure around the athletic department, fired off a blunt message on social media after No. 8 Texas Tech fell 37-24 to Cincinnati on Saturday.
“There is no excuse or reason to lose a game like this. We have to be better.”
Campbell added the Texas Tech football account to the post as well.
The reaction carried extra weight because Campbell is not just any frustrated fan. The former Texas Tech football player and prominent donor has helped funnel significant resources into the school’s athletic department during a period when NIL and revenue sharing have reshaped college sports.
That investment has come with bigger expectations.
Texas Tech entered Saturday at 6-0 and riding high after a 53-25 blowout of Arizona State last weekend. The Red Raiders had positioned themselves as a serious contender in the race to the Big 12 Championship Game and possibly the College Football Playoff.
Instead, Cincinnati seized control early and never let go. The Bearcats led 24-6 at halftime and held off any Texas Tech push, finishing off the upset and handing the Red Raiders their first defeat of the year.
One loss doesn’t knock Texas Tech out of the Big 12 or College Football Playoff picture.
But Campbell’s post made the larger point plain: around this program, the standard has changed. Texas Tech has spent heavily to build a team that can chase championships, and after Saturday’s showing in Cincinnati, one of its most influential supporters wasn’t interested in excuses.
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Texas Tech Has A Stake In The Big 12's Next Decision
After Cincinnatis upset win over Texas Tech, the postgame scene at Nippert Stadium quickly became part of the story as fans poured onto the field. Now the Big 12 is reviewing whether the Bearcats should be hit with a $50,000 fine under its field-storming policy, a familiar conference issue whenever a home crowd rushes the turf after a big win.
For Texas Tech, the result on the scoreboard is already in the books, but the leagues next decision still matters because it will examine whether security created a safe path for the visiting team and officials through the chaos. The Big 12 usually moves quickly on these situations, so a ruling should come within days, and Tech has a clear interest in how the conference judges what happened after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Techs QB Problem Just Changed The Big 12 Picture
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Defensively, Texas Tech had its own trouble getting the game under control, giving up 257 rushing yards and watching Cole Tabb pile up 173 of them. The larger Big 12 ripple comes from how quickly a single absence can reshape a matchup, with Brendan Sorsby sidelined by eligibility issues tied to gambling allegations and the door opening for a different kind of game than many expected. For Texas Tech, the result was a reminder that the path in this league can change fast, and not always in the way a playoff hopeful wants. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Techs Undefeated Start Just Raised A Bigger Concern
Texas Techs unbeaten start ran straight into a wall at Nippert Stadium, where Cincinnati handed the Red Raiders a 37-24 loss and sent a reminder that the Big 12 race can change quickly. The Bearcats got a signature win of their own, knocking off a top-10 opponent for the first time since 2021 behind a sharp day from quarterback JC French IV and a career performance from running back Cole Tabb.
For Texas Tech, the bigger concern was how often Cincinnati dictated the game on both sides of the ball. The Bearcats defense kept the Red Raiders out of the end zone for most of the afternoon and turned in momentum-shifting plays, including a one-handed interception by safety MJ Cannon, leaving Texas Tech with a result that felt as much about missed answers as it did about one bad night. [Read more 🡒]