It’s week 4 of the college football season and Texas Tech, one of the most intriguing teams, looks to go 4-0 against Utah this week.
Texas Tech’s transfer haul shows what $55M in NIL can buy
Texas Tech is off to a great start in the 2025 season. They won their first three games by blowouts: 67-7 vs AR-Pine Bluff, 62-14 vs Kent State and 45-14 vs Oregon St. Today they are facing No. 16 Utah to try to keep an undefeated record.
After a disappointing season last year, Tech is out to prove why they will be the most disruptive team this season.
Texas Tech picks up *checks notes* 70 yards on 3rd and 10 pic.twitter.com/CKrFYWEauZ
— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) September 20, 2025
Red Raiders bet big: Texas Tech aims to buy its way into contention
The way that Tech is planning to become this big disruptor is thanks to an unprecedented NIL investment. Oil billionaire and former Red Raider Cody Campbell has spearheaded a donor collective that has raised more than $63 million since 2022, with $55 million in NIL contracts this year alone.
That financial muscle has already delivered the nation’s top transfer class, bringing 22 new players to Lubbock. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt has framed the effort as a revolution on par with sports innovators like Steph Curry and Dick Fosbury, saying Tech is out to “change the future.”
Texas Tech is on the precipice of what may be their most important football season ever. They have mastered NIL & the transfer portal, and they have completely revamped their football program - much like they did with softball.
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) July 9, 2025
Now they stand to be a major player this fall... pic.twitter.com/naVBwY2yFO
“They did not wait for permission,” Hocutt said, via the Avalanche-Journal. “They changed the game, and in doing so, they changed the future. And that is what we are doing at Texas Tech today.”
Stepping in the spotlight pic.twitter.com/Vf2Q5iuZ5v
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) September 20, 2025
For a program that hasn’t cracked the final Top 25 in 16 years or finished a season in the AP Top 10, the Red Raiders see NIL as their chance to finally compete for championships. Ranked No. 23 entering the season after an 8–5 campaign, Tech has the opportunity to prove money can buy relevance - and maybe even a College Football Playoff berth.
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