Several college athletics departments may ban games or matches against Texas Tech University after a judge reinstated the school’s star quarterback, even after he admitted to brazenly violating gambling rules.
College officials have expressed outrage at the Texas judge’s ruling, made Monday, that allows Brendan Sorsby to return to gameplay even after he admitted to placing more than 9,000 bets, totaling more than $90,000, on sports – including 40 bets, totaling more than $850, on Indiana football while he was on the team.
Though Sorsby, 22, attended rehab for gambling addiction and admitted to his mistake, coaches and athletic directors have expressed deep concern that allowing him to play will sow mistrust in games.
Already, Georgia University’s deputy athletic director for legal affairs sent a memo to staff, forbidding the school’s teams from playing Texas Tech unless given prior authorization by the athletic department, according to an email seen by ESPN. The University of Nebraska has reportedly done the same.
Schools in the Big 12 and Big 10 conferences are also said to be discussing how to move forward with the season after the ruling.
Brett Yormark, the commissioner of the Big 12, released a statement Monday, saying the “ramifications of today’s ruling are significant and could have broad impacts across college athletics.”
“I’ve been consulting with our key stakeholders and have scheduled meetings with our Conference ADs and Executive Board this week,” Yormark added, saying they would continue to monitor and evaluate the situation.
“It’s f***ing bull****,” Kansas State University Athletic Director Gene Taylor told Yahoo Sports Monday.
Taylor said there have been “serious conversations” about whether Big 12 conference members should play Texas Tech given the ruling.
University of Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan said the judge’s decision left him “disheartened,” and Texas Christian University football coach Sonny Dykes questioned whether anyone could trust the outcome of a game again as a result of the ruling.
The Independent has asked schools currently scheduled to play Texas Tech in the upcoming 2026 season for comment.
Sorsby, who previously played for the Indiana Hoosiers and Cincinnati Bearcats before transferring to Texas Tech for a $5 million name, image, and likeness agreement, had challenged the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s decision to ban him.
The NCAA strictly prohibits student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff from betting on any sport sponsored by the NCAA. After learning Sorsby had engaged in gambling activity, the NCAA conducted an investigation and subsequently determined he was ineligible to play.
But Sorsby’s lawyers argued that he was struggling with anxiety and addiction.
The judge who sided with Sorsby agreed he would suffer “probable, imminent and irreparable injury” if he was no longer allowed to play for the Red Raiders. Under the judge’s ruling, Sorsby cannot play for two games and must continue attending counseling for gambling addiction while participating.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Sorsby said he was “very grateful for the endless support” and “chance to rejoin my teammates.” The college quarterback said he would remain focused on personal growth, learning from the experience and helping others.
The NCAA has already appealed the judge’s ruling, saying it was “deeply concerned about the damaging, far-reaching and broadly destabilizing ramifications” of the outcome.
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