As one of the most prominent Texas Tech football fans on the planet is in the midst of a pretty public disagreement with the man in charge of leading the Big 12, it seems like many Red Raider fans (though certainly not all of them) find themselves supporting Cody Campbell.
There’s a bit of a minor offseason feud between Campbell (the Chairman for the Texas Tech Board of Regents and also a very wealthy man who has thrown his support behind the Red Raiders in a very significant way) and Brett Yormark (the commissioner of the Big 12 conference) and it looks like Red Raider fans are backing one of their own in this.
The bulk of the disagreement is over how Campbell isn’t fond of the way the Big 12 has placed Texas Tech’s match up with the Houston Cougars on a Friday night. Given that Texas high school football is a pretty big deal for many in the state, it puts a slight pinch on the Red Raiders a bit. Campbell has been vocal in criticisms.
From Cody Campbell on Brett Yormark: “As commissioner, he needs to remember that he works for the Presidents, and the Presidents work for the Boards. He is not the dictator of the conference. That’s not his role. It is his responsibility to advocate for his members in all cases.” https://t.co/TSqLcVmSA9
— Dave Wilson (@dwil) April 2, 2026
Yormark has made his stance known.
A brewing public spat in the Big 12…
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) April 2, 2026
“Cody Campbell does not run the Big 12,” Brett Yormark tells the Avalanche-Journal. https://t.co/H6VSTeeDae
Red Raider fans seem to rally behind Cody Campbell as the Texas Tech Board of Regents Chairman publicly disagrees with the Big 12
And this is how Texas Tech football fans are reacting.
Why would you schedule a college game in Texas on a Friday night, unless you wanted poor attendance and low tv ratings? No college game should be played on Friday night, but especially a game in Texas. pic.twitter.com/rVJUNVYfoP
— Coach Vint (@coachvint) March 30, 2026
— Matt Stepp (@Matt_Stepp817) March 31, 2026
Some folks are weighing in, simply in a way that’s critical of the Big 12 for the decision (which makes some sense for people to be a little upset over the situation).
At what point (and I'm not saying there's an invite elsewhere at the moment) do we say that the Big 12 leadership no longer aligns culturally with Texas Tech. https://t.co/V7DHdtwkCA
— Flatland Sports🌵 (@flatland_sports) April 2, 2026
Texas Tech runs the Big 12
— Red Raider Man🌵 (@redraiderman1) April 2, 2026
Others are taking to acting as if the Red Raiders should have a disproportionate sort of influence over the Big 12 due to the way Texas Tech has had some pretty noteworthy recent success in the conference. Which, I don’t think that sort of take is going to go over well with a lot of people.
I’m sorry, but it’s UT behavior to make such a big deal out of a Friday game. Just go out and win the game. Sorry if it interferes with your precious high school football watch party. Good lord.
— 🌵 DC Nik 🌵 (@JustASportGuy) April 2, 2026
Which, yeah. I think plenty of people outside of Texas Tech will be looking at folks in Lubbock the way folks in Lubbock looked at folks in Austin for a number of years.
Anyone who thinks this is an unreasonable position just hates Tech. Also Big 12 fans should not want the biggest conference game that week to be on a Friday anyways. https://t.co/UZSUE4P2pG
— Tech N Tortillas 🦅🦅🌵 (@techntortillas) April 3, 2026
None of these other Big XII fans would care at all about this dust up between Cody Campbell and Brett Yormark if the Red Raiders were not beating their teams.
— Dan Isett 🌵 (@DanIsett) April 3, 2026
At least be intellectually honest about that, y'all.
This is certainly going to be a fun little storyline to track all the way through the Big 12 Media Days and into the upcoming football season. There’s no way this one doesn’t get brought up about 1,000 different ways between now and the Big 12 championship game.