Brendan Sorsby, a quarterback, is pursuing legal action to obtain an injunction that would allow him to play in the upcoming football season, despite having previously placed bets on his own team. His legal representatives are currently seeking intervention from a Texas court to prevent the NCAA from enforcing a suspension.
In response, the NCAA has filed a document opposing Sorsby’s request for a temporary injunction, arguing that permitting him to participate would have significant and destabilizing effects. The governing body of college sports expressed concerns that allowing a player who has wagered on his own team to compete could set a dangerous precedent.
The NCAA's filing highlighted that such a decision could essentially endorse gambling among student-athletes, particularly those who may struggle with gambling addictions. This could lead to a scenario where vulnerable athletes might continue to gamble, believing they could evade consequences by following Sorsby’s example and seeking legal recourse if caught.
Sorsby’s case is scheduled to be heard by a judge in Lubbock County, Texas, on Monday. He previously played for Indiana University and the University of Cincinnati before transferring to Texas Tech after the 2025 season. Recently, Texas Tech disclosed that Sorsby would be entering an inpatient rehabilitation program to address his gambling addiction and anxiety issues.
According to court documents, Texas Tech declared Sorsby ineligible and requested his reinstatement from the NCAA on May 18, but this request was denied on May 22. The NCAA maintains that its bylaws clearly indicate Sorsby’s college football career is effectively over.
On Friday, Texas Tech filed an appeal against the NCAA's decision. The NCAA became aware of Sorsby’s betting activities on March 11, following a tip from an online gambling platform that had been alerted by law enforcement. The NCAA informed Texas Tech of its investigation into Sorsby for potential violations of gambling regulations on April 14.
Sorsby entered the rehabilitation clinic in Goodyear, Arizona, nearly two weeks later. The NCAA's documentation included evidence that Sorsby was aware of the rules regarding sports betting, as he had signed forms acknowledging the association’s policies during his time at Indiana and Texas Tech.
In these forms, Sorsby agreed that any involvement in sports wagering would render him ineligible for all sports practices and competitions. Furthermore, he signed a document with Texas Tech and its integrity partner, ProhiBET, acknowledging the prohibition against sports betting and the potential penalties for violations, which could lead to permanent ineligibility.
Evidence submitted by Texas Tech and Sorsby to the NCAA indicated that he had placed “impermissible wagers” totaling at least $90,000 while in college. During the 2022 football season, Sorsby reportedly made over 40 bets on the Hoosiers, the team he was part of, and continued to place bets on other college sports events, including over 50 wagers on Indiana’s men’s basketball team.
His betting activities were conducted through online platforms such as Hard Rock Bet and FanDuel, with total stakes exceeding $6,500 across various college football games.