Agents Using Fake Texas Tech Offers to Swindle College Football Rivals

NIL money has fueled a rise in shady recruiting tactics, with agents falsely claiming Texas Tech is pursuing players to drive up bidding wars.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:33am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors, featuring bold, swirling shapes and textures that capture the high-stakes competition and financial forces of college football recruiting.Texas Tech's massive NIL spending has fueled a recruiting arms race, as agents use the program's deep pockets to drive up prices for rival schools.Lubbock Today

Texas Tech football has become a major player in the NIL recruiting game, thanks to the deep pockets of billionaire booster Cody Campbell. However, this has led to unscrupulous agents using fake Texas Tech offers as leverage to swindle other college programs and drive up the price for top prospects, even if the Red Raiders aren't actually recruiting those players.

Why it matters

The rise of NIL has created a new landscape in college football recruiting, where money is the ultimate recruiting tool. Texas Tech's aggressive NIL spending has made them a target for agents looking to exploit the system, which is having a negative impact on the recruiting efforts of other programs.

The details

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire revealed that agents are frequently claiming the Red Raiders are pursuing certain players in the transfer portal, even when that's not the case. This allows the agents to demand more money from rival schools by threatening to take the player to Lubbock. McGuire has had to call other coaches to clarify that Texas Tech is not actually recruiting those players, but the damage is often already done.

  • In a recent podcast appearance, McGuire discussed the issue of shady agent tactics.
  • Last year, Texas Tech's aggressive NIL spending helped the team win the Big 12 title and reach the College Football Playoff for the first time.

The players

Joey McGuire

The head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.

Cody Campbell

A billionaire booster who has poured millions into Texas Tech's football program, helping transform them into a national contender.

Tremaine Jackson

The head coach of the Prairie View A&M football team, who has spoken out about the dangers of unscrupulous agents, particularly those who are close family members of players.

Diego Pavia

A star player at Vanderbilt who has refused to hire an agent out of fear of being taken advantage of financially.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We are the drivers of driving NIL money up from the standpoint of how we're being used. If you get in the transfer portal, your agent is going to say, 'Hey, Texas Tech is talking to him.' All of a sudden, the conversation changes. Half the time, we're not even talking to these kids. I'll have to call a coach and say, 'Coach, we're not talking to this kid. I don't care what their agent says. They're trying to drive your money up.'”

— Joey McGuire, Head Coach, Texas Tech Red Raiders

“My worst nightmare is the 'uncle to the single mom.'”

— Tremaine Jackson, Head Coach, Prairie View A&M

What’s next

Texas Tech and other programs will likely continue to deal with shady agent tactics as the NIL landscape evolves, but coaches like McGuire are working to be proactive in calling out these practices and maintaining transparency with rival schools.

The takeaway

The rise of NIL in college football has created a new frontier for recruiting, where money is king. Texas Tech's aggressive spending has made them a target for unscrupulous agents looking to exploit the system, highlighting the need for greater oversight and regulation in this new era of college sports.