Billionaire Cody Campbell’s Bold Plan to Revamp College Sports

College sports keep changing, and Cody Campbell—Texas Tech grad and billionaire businessman—has jumped into the fray. Some folks see him as a possible savior, or at least someone willing to shake things up.

Right now, Campbell’s working with President Trump to try and reshape college athletics. Their goal? To fix the chaos and close the financial gaps that’ve put women’s and Olympic sports at risk these past four years.

This post takes a look at Campbell’s background, what drives him, and what he thinks might save college sports from falling apart.

The Man Behind the Mission

Cody Campbell used to play offensive line at Texas Tech. He’s built and sold businesses worth $15 billion, which is no small feat.

He’s got deep Texas Tech roots, and honestly, his business sense makes him stand out in this world. Still, Campbell says he feels a real responsibility to keep college sports—and all their opportunities—alive.

A Legacy of Perseverance

Campbell’s story goes back a couple generations. His grandfather, Bill Cagle, and his dad, Cliff Campbell, both used college sports to get ahead in life.

That family history gave Campbell a real appreciation for how college athletics can change someone’s life.

The State of College Sports

Over the last four years, college sports have changed fast. The Big Ten and SEC rake in cash, while other conferences are left scrambling.

This new “caste system” means a handful of schools dominate, and the rest try to keep up. It’s not exactly a fair fight.

Financial Disparities

The Big Ten and SEC landed billion-dollar media rights deals, which left everyone else in the dust. Schools outside those leagues just don’t have the same money to spend.

It’s tough for them to keep up, especially when it comes to supporting non-revenue sports. Campbell and his donor group at Texas Tech have poured money into facilities and NIL contracts, but that only goes so far.

Proposed Solutions

Campbell thinks pooling media rights could help. He wants all the conferences to work together, inspired by the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.

That law lets sports leagues pool their media rights and sell them as a group. It’s not a new idea, but maybe it’s the one college sports need right now.

Pooling Media Rights

If the four power conferences pooled their media rights, Campbell believes they’d all make more money. That could help close the gap between the Big Ten, SEC, and everyone else.

It might even keep women’s and Olympic sports alive, instead of letting them fade away.

Addressing Legal Challenges

There are legal hurdles, of course—antitrust laws, Title IX, and all that. Campbell and Trump are trying to guide new legislation through Congress to make these changes possible.

The Bigger Picture

Sure, a lot of this is about money. But for Campbell, it’s also about protecting the culture and educational value of college sports.

Preserving Opportunities

He wants every school to have a shot, not just the rich ones. If they can bring in more revenue and share it fairly, college sports could keep offering life-changing opportunities to all kinds of student-athletes.

A Personal Calling

For Campbell, this isn’t just business. He says college sports shaped his life and gave him chances he’d never have had otherwise.