There’s a new power player in college athletics — and he’s not a coach, athletic director, or university president.
He’s Cody Campbell, a Texas Tech alum, energy magnate, and the university’s most prominent donor. And as of this week, he’s also one of the co-chairs of President Donald J. Trump’s newly formed presidential commission on college sports.
Yes, you read that right: President Trump, currently serving his second term in the White House, has decided it’s time for the federal government to take a hard look at the state of college athletics — particularly the wild, unregulated world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments that has upended the balance of power in the NCAA.
And to lead that charge, Trump has chosen two men. The first is Nick Saban, one of the winningest coaches in college football history and a household name in American sports. The second? Cody Campbell, a name that might not mean much to casual fans but one that carries serious weight inside college sports circles — especially in Lubbock.
With this appointment, Campbell’s influence has gone national, and he may soon help shape decisions that affect everything from revenue-sharing models to federal oversight of NIL collectives.
From West Texas to Washington
Cody Campbell's journey from Canyon High School, Texas Tech offensive lineman, to billionaire oil executive is already the stuff of local legend. A former student-athlete who built a fortune through DoublePoint Energy and now sits on the Texas Tech Board of Regents, Campbell has become a transformational figure for his alma mater.
In recent years, he’s poured tens of millions into the university, helping fund facilities, coaching salaries, and — most notably — a highly competitive NIL program that has allowed Texas Tech to punch well above its weight in the football transfer portal.
Now, Campbell is taking that experience and visibility to the highest level: directly advising the President of the United States on how to fix what he sees as a broken college sports system.
It’s a remarkable trajectory. From the locker rooms of Jones Stadium to the halls of power in Washington, Campbell has become a key figure in one of the most high-stakes conversations in American athletics today.
Trump’s Commission: A Political Football or a Policy Powerhouse?
Critics and supporters alike are still digesting President Trump’s surprise move to form a presidential commission on college sports. Some view it as a political stunt. Others see it as a necessary step to address what many believe is the uncontrolled spiral of NIL deals, which now resemble professional free agency more than amateur athletics.
What we know for certain is this: Trump intends for this commission to investigate, analyze, and provide policy recommendations regarding NIL, athlete compensation, and the financial structures of college athletics.
While no one knows yet whether this could lead to an executive order — or whether it will serve as the springboard for legislation — the potential impact is real. This commission could reshape the guardrails of the NCAA, create federal NIL standards, or even push Congress to step in with antitrust protections or reforms.
And in the middle of it all? Cody Campbell.
Campbell's Vision: Guardrails, Not Handcuffs
If you've been following Campbell’s public commentary over the last year, his stance on NIL reform is crystal clear. He believes the system, as currently constructed, is lurching toward collapse — one that favors a handful of mega-programs and puts everyone else, including schools like Texas Tech, at risk.
In op-eds for The Federalist, Campbell warned of a future where college sports become “a gilded monopoly,” dominated by the SEC and Big Ten while leaving 100+ other programs to fend for scraps.
“Of 134 FBS schools, 90 or more could lose funding for Olympic sports, women’s teams, and even football itself,” Campbell wrote. “Local towns could crumble. Smaller colleges would fade. College sports would shrink from a national treasure to an elite clique.”
Campbell doesn’t oppose NIL outright — in fact, he’s helped his school become one of its most effective practitioners. But what he wants is fairness, transparency, and sustainability. He fears that without federal regulation or a unified standard, college sports could fracture into a caste system — one where only the richest survive.
What This Means for Texas Tech
From a Red Raider perspective, Campbell’s appointment could not come at a better time.
As athletic departments across the country scramble to adapt to NIL chaos, Texas Tech now has a direct pipeline to the highest levels of national policy-making. That could translate into real strategic advantages — not just in influence, but in early access to what the future of college sports may look like.
Campbell will be gaining insight, forging connections, and building credibility in rooms that very few outside of the Big Ten or SEC typically enter. That influence could help Texas Tech not only navigate the changing landscape — but thrive within it.
Whether it's shaping NIL regulations, protecting opportunities for non-revenue sports, or ensuring that schools like Tech aren’t left out of a new revenue-sharing model, Campbell’s voice will be heard.
And thanks to his deep ties to the university, Tech fans can rest assured he won’t forget where he came from.
Bigger Than Football
Let’s not forget: this moment isn’t just about football. It's about the entire structure of collegiate athletics in America.
If NIL and revenue-sharing remain unchecked, countless programs could disappear. Women’s sports could face painful cuts. Olympic pipelines could dry up. Small towns that depend on college athletics could suffer deeply.
By stepping onto the national stage, Cody Campbell is not just representing Texas Tech — he’s fighting for a version of college sports that includes schools from all corners of the country, not just the media darlings and financial juggernauts.
And he’s doing it with the backing of the President of the United States.
The Bottom Line
No matter your political leanings, it’s hard to deny the significance of this moment. President Trump has elevated Cody Campbell from regional kingmaker to national policymaker — and with it, he’s handed Texas Tech a seat at one of the most powerful tables in college athletics.
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