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Texas Tech chair donated $275K to Ken Paxton day before AG intervened in Brendan Sorsby saga
By Kayla Guo at CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com)
· July 16, 2026
· 5 min read
Last month, Attorney General Ken Paxton waded into the explosive college football saga involving Brendan Sorsby, the Texas Tech University quarterback who had admitted to placing thousands of improper sports bets, including on his own team’s games, resulting in the NCAA declaring him ineligible t...
Key takeaway In a June 11 letter, Paxton’s office warned the Big 12 Conference on behalf of Texas Tech that any move to sanction the university for fielding Sorsby would be “unlawful” and potentially expose it to $200 million in damages.
Why this matters in The Odessa
The timing of Texas Tech Board of Regents Chair Cody Campbell's substantial donation to Attorney General Ken Paxton's fundraising committee raises questions about the influence of local power brokers on state and national politics. As a major donor to Texas Tech's athletics program and a vocal defender of quarterback Brendan Sorsby, Campbell's actions may be seen as an attempt to leverage his financial clout to shape the outcome of Sorsby's eligibility saga. The fact that Paxton's office intervened on behalf of Texas Tech just one day after the donation will likely fuel speculation about the relationship between Campbell's philanthropy and Paxton's actions. This development may also have implications for the upcoming U.S. Senate race, in which Paxton is facing a well-funded challenger in James Talarico. As the campaign unfolds, Odessa residents will be watching to see how this controversy affects Paxton's chances in the Permian Basin, a region that has historically been a stronghold for Republican candidates.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) . The Odessa surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 16, 2026 ·
Source: CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Last month, Attorney General Ken Paxton waded into the explosive college football saga involving Brendan Sorsby, the Texas Tech University quarterback who had admitted to placing thousands of improper sports bets, including on his own team’s games, resulting in the NCAA declaring him ineligible t...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 16, 2026 by CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kayla Guo at CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Odessa, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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