Texas Tech mega-booster Cody Campbell took to social media shortly after the No. 8 Red Raiders’ 37-24 loss to Cincinnati and didn’t mince words about what he had just watched.
“There is no excuse or reason to lose a game like this. We have to be better.”
There is no excuse or reason to lose a game like this. We have to be better. @TexasTechFB
Campbell also tagged the Texas Tech football account in his post.
It’s a strong reaction from someone who has played an enormous role in Texas Tech’s push to become a major player in college athletics.
Campbell, a former Texas Tech football player and prominent donor, has helped pour significant resources into the Red Raiders’ athletic department at a time when NIL and revenue sharing have completely changed the landscape of college sports.
And expectations for Texas Tech football have risen right along with that investment.
The Red Raiders entered Saturday 6-0 and ranked No. 8 in the country after blowing out Arizona State 53-25 last weekend. Texas Tech appeared to be emerging as one of the favorites to reach the Big 12 Championship Game and potentially the College Football Playoff.
Then came Saturday.
Cincinnati jumped out to a 24-6 halftime lead and never allowed Texas Tech to fully recover. The Bearcats eventually finished off the 37-24 upset, handing the Red Raiders their first loss of the season.
One loss certainly doesn’t eliminate Texas Tech from the Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff conversation.
But Campbell’s reaction is another reminder that the expectations in Lubbock have changed.
Texas Tech has invested heavily in building a program capable of competing for championships.
And after Saturday’s performance in Cincinnati, one of the program’s biggest supporters made it clear that what he saw wasn’t good enough.
