Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech's quarterback, announced he will enter the 2026 NFL supplemental draft instead of returning to college football this fall [1, 2, 3, 4]. This follows a Texas judge granting him a temporary injunction restoring his NCAA eligibility, which the NCAA had revoked due to gambling violations [1, 2].
Sorsby admitted placing at least 40 bets on college football games, including while playing for Indiana, wagering roughly $90,000 over four years [1, 2, 4]. The NCAA ruled him permanently ineligible due to these violations. Despite this, the judge’s injunction allowed him to regain his eligibility pending a trial scheduled for February 2027 in Lubbock County District Court [1, 2].
The Big 12 Conference filed a lawsuit on June 15 in the Northern District of Texas against Texas Tech and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The conference aims to affirm its authority to enforce bylaws and impose sanctions on Texas Tech if Sorsby plays this season [5, 6, 4]. Possible sanctions cited in the complaint include monetary penalties, postseason bans, and forfeiting games in which Sorsby participates [5, 6].
Big 12 athletic directors and presidents met last week and expressed near-unanimous opposition to Sorsby playing for Texas Tech [1, 5, 3]. Meanwhile, Texas Tech and Attorney General Paxton have threatened legal action against the Big 12 should sanctions be imposed [6, 4].
Texas Tech also released a 21-minute video outlining protocols for Sorsby if he returned, and said it would not seek repayment of NIL money paid to him so far. Board of Regents Chair Cody Campbell said, "Texas Tech will not seek return of any amounts already paid to Brendan through his NIL agreements with the University" [4].
Sorsby entered a gambling addiction treatment program on April 27, 2026, amid the controversy [1]. Texas Tech had planned a two-game suspension if he played this season [1].
The NFL supplemental draft is expected in late July 2026, though an exact date has not been announced [1]. The legal battle over Sorsby’s eligibility continues, with his trial set for February 2027.
