On Monday, a Lubbock court will hear arguments over Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility to play in the 2026 season. After apparently betting on games involving his squad, the NCAA declared the senior to be permanently ineligible.
Sorsby has asked for an injunction that would let him play collegiate football while his complaint against the NCAA is being heard in court. His earlier request for reinstatement was rejected.
Sorsby has retained several of the most prominent lawyers in collegiate athletics to present his defense. Jeffrey Kessler, the litigator who oversaw the historic House v. NCAA settlement, serves as his primary legal counsel. Dustin Burrows, speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, is his additional attorney.
According to papers filed in court, Sorsby acknowledged making hundreds of bets over a period of four years. According to the reports, he gave money to relatives and friends to make bets for him, even after he got to Texas Tech. During his time in the Indiana football program, he placed a minimum of 40 bets. Players who bet on their own team or institution face permanent loss of eligibility under NCAA rules.
After the charges were brought, Sorsby spent a few weeks in a gambling rehabilitation facility. He was released last week and has spent the previous few days at home with family before going back to Lubbock for the hearing.
Joey McGuire, head coach of Texas Tech, stated, “I’m extremely proud of Brendan for obtaining assistance for his gambling addiction. ” We will keep giving Brendan our support.
Defend compulsive gambling as a lawyer.
According to court records, Sorsby’s attorneys contend that he has a severe mental health disorder that ought to be considered an extenuating factor for his conduct. They contend, in particular, that the NCAA’s connection with gambling companies was a factor in Sorsby’s gambling addiction and anxiety.
Sorsby’s legal team wrote that the NCAA has weaponized his illness to bolster a façade of competitive integrity while simultaneously profiting from the same gambling ecosystem it regulates.
Sorsby’s proposal was met with enthusiasm by the NCAA in a filing. They stated that it would be unheard of at any level for a player to be permitted to engage in game activity after placing wagers on their own games. All of the most popular sports prohibit sports gambling. Federal investigations have been brought against a number of players in the NBA and collegiate basketball for manipulating performances and games.
Even with Sorsby’s extended recovery period, Texas Tech has consistently backed him throughout. Lubbock, especially because of the university’s addiction center, would be the greatest area for Sorsby to recover from his addiction, according to a lengthy public letter released this week by Lawrence Schovanec, president of Texas Tech.
In a statement made during Big 12 sessions on Thursday, McGuire also stood up for Sorsby. Sorsby would quickly return to the institution, according to him, after going back to the Dallas area to see family.
McGuire stated that he believes there should be consequences, but that in his opinion, he should not be punished for the rest of his career or this year. I believe that he has been very open and truthful with us based on what has been released, that he has a serious program, and that the best place to receive aid is with him at Texas Tech and able to play.
Sorsby wins in court.
Arguments from both parties will be heard on Monday by Judge Ken Curry. He will, however, only be making one judgment: whether or not to issue an injunction. He won’t be able to alter or modify Sorsby’s NCAA punishment.
Curry would have to accept that Sorsby’s case against the NCAA is legitimate and that failing to play would cause him irreparable harm if he were to issue an injunction. If an injunction were to be denied, Sorsby would not be able to participate while undergoing the legal procedure. In light of the case’s timeframe, his undergraduate career would be over.
At first, Judge Phillip Hays was supposed to hear the case. However, the twice Texas Tech graduate eventually withdrew. Curry, a Houston law school alumnus who retired in 2012, will instead preside over the hearing. However, he frequently returns to oversee important individual choices.
Sorsby’s alternative plans
Following his arrival from Cincinnati, Sorsby was considered a blue-chip quarterback prospect and the No. 2 player in the transfer portal. One of the highest-paid players in collegiate football was supposedly made by the Red Raiders. Sorsby has the potential to influence the national and Big 12 race if granted a final year of eligibility.
Sorsby completed 62% of his throws for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just five interceptions during his junior year at Cincinnati. Additionally, he scored 18 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,000 yards over the past two seasons.
If Sorsby is declared ineligible, he could opt to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft in 2026. Since Jalen Thompson was chosen by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, no player has been selected in the draft. The draft was held in 2023, but no players were chosen.
backup strategy for Texas Tech
The Red Raiders will have a vacancy at the quarterback position if Sorsby is unable to play. However, the staff remains extremely enthusiastic about the prospect of backup quarterback Will Hammond, who is recovering from a torn ACL that he sustained in October.
Hammond is still on a nine-month schedule that might allow him to resume practice about Aug. 21, according to McGuire. The Red Raiders anticipate him to make a comeback around Week 3, when Texas Tech plays Houston in a marquee battle, in order to allow him time to ramp up.
McGuire said that if he hadn’t been wounded, there would be no discussion of this. We wouldn’t be looking for a starting quarterback. However, he is in a good place, and we would have been searching for a depth piece in that area, with the funds allocated to other positions. I’m really lucky to have Will Hammond.
In the Austin area, Hammond was a blue-chip quarterback recruit from Hutto, Texas. After two years on campus, he has made an impression and had unbelievable statistics. The Red Raiders went on to win 34-10, as the redshirt sophomore entered the game off the bench against No. 16 Utah and threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
Returner Lloyd Jones III and Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis both have live experience if Hammond has a setback. From Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia, Texas Tech also recruited three-star prospect Stephen Cannon.
