Big 12 commissioner, Texas Tech’s Cody Campbell involved in public dispute
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A feud seems to be brewing between Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Texas Tech powerbroker Cody Campbell.
On Thursday morning, Yormark responded to complaints from Campbell about the Red Raiders potentially playing a Friday night game in 2026. The Big 12 and FOX are in the process of moving Tech’s game against Houston to Friday, Sept. 18, per Campbell.
Campbell objected to the idea, citing the importance of high school football in the state of Texas.
Yormark fired back in a brief statement to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on Thursday:
“Cody Campbell does not run the Big 12,” Yormark told the Avalanche Journal. “Our Board and our ADs approved playing 12 games a year off of Saturdays in an effort to raise the profile, narrative, and viewership of Big 12 Football. Texas Tech hosting a primetime game on Friday night delivers that.
“Friday night Big 12 football games outperformed the Conference’s average rating by 64% in 2025. All of our schools are treated equally during the TV scheduling process and this game fits within our scheduling parameters. I am thankful that our TV partners provide us with these opportunities.”
Campbell took exception to those comments, sharing this message on social media in response to Yormark:
Something similar has happened in the Big 12 in the recent past. In 2021, Oklahoma‘s athletic department publicly expressed frustrations after its marquee nonconference game against Nebraska was scheduled for an 11 a.m. kickoff rather than its preferred primetime slot. Oklahoma and Texas announced intentions to leave for the SEC just a couple of months later.
It will be interesting to see how this particular rift plays out between Texas Tech and the Big 12 office.
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Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
