Brendan Sorsby Sports Betting

[saevel25]

So, Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech transfer QB, was found guilty of sports betting by the NCAA. He admitted to it. He placed thousands of bets over multiple years while at Indiana and Cincinnati. This included betting on his own teams. 

The NCAA rules ban athletes from betting on any sport (college or pro). 

A retired visiting judge from Tarrant County, Texas has put an injunction on the NCAA ruling. He is a visiting judge because the first judge was a graduate and big fan of Texas Tech, and he recused himself. The judged ruled the following... "Under Curry's order, Sorsby is permitted to play for Texas Tech's 2026 season on the condition that he continues his treatment for a gambling and anxiety disorder and serves a two-game suspension (missing games against Abilene Christian and Oregon State)." 

Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly care for the NCAA. That still doesn't mean that a college can choose when or where to say, "Yea we agree to these rules for all our sports, well except in this case."

Here is a breakdown from S&W.

The Hidden Weapon in Sorsby’s Injunction: How a Lubbock County Court Order Quietly Neutralized the NCAA’s Most Powerful Enforcement Tool - Law Offices of Snell & Wilmer

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By Ryan J. Regula On June 8, 2026, Lubbock County District Court Judge Ken Curry issued a temporary injunction in Brendan Sorsby v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, Cause No. DC-2026-CV-0791 (99th Judicial District...

The main judgement made sense. Sorsby, I am going to have all this harm done to me if I don't get to play. The Judge, I agree. The penalty for gambling is too harsh, so here are all these things you must do, and I will grant this injunction against the NCAA. Basically, an analogy would be when a person goes into court for a DUI and they agree to all these other things to not end up in jail. 

What sucks for the NCAA is the NCAA has appealed to Texas’ Seventh Court of Appeals, based in Amarillo. All four justices that preside over the court are graduates of Texas Tech University School of Law. It would be hilarious if all four of them had to recuse themselves 🤣.

For those who like to read legal rulings...

 

[iacas]

Two bits.

Bit 1
The NCAA's appeal of Brendan Sorsby being granted a temporary injunction will not be heard until February, so there will be nothing to prevent Sorsby from playing the full season and potential CFP. 

Bit 2

• The Big Ten Conference will hold a meeting and is expected to ban all of its athletic programs from playing Texas Tech in the regular season.
• Georgia has done the same.
• The SEC will meet to consider a similar ban.
• Fellow Big 12 members TCU and Kansas State are spearheading a similar ban, but the conference charter might not allow it. Meanwhile, Big 12 athletic directors are meeting this week to explore what options the conference might have.

[boogielicious]

I have very little confidence is sport’s legitimacy now that gambling is legal and intrenched in them. 

[mcanadiens]

Maybe there's something I still don't understand about the situation. Wouldn't Texas Tech do itself a favor to move on from Sorsby at this point?

 

 

 

[saevel25]

9 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

Maybe there's something I still don't understand about the situation. Wouldn't Texas Tech do itself a favor to move on from Sorsby at this point

Nope, they spent too much money. They are in over 28 million on the football roster and related NIL compensation at this point. Boosters associated with any Texas college football team has HUGE sway. The AD is between a rock and a hard place. They put a lot of money into Sorsby, at the chance of winning a NC this year. If you move on, you basically wasted a lot. 

This is why Ohio State wants 3 QB's they feel can start. That is why the backups the past 5 years at some point transfer. Texas Tech has no backup near the quality of Sorsby. If they move on, they are screwed for 2026. 

[saevel25]

Update: Brandon Sorsby has decided to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft. He will not play for Texas Tech in the upcoming season. 

From my perspective, I think he did the right thing. I hope he gets the correct help for his gambling addiction. I say the right thing, because I would be worried that the stress from all of this now and throughout the entire year would not be beneficial towards his mental health. 

If an NFL team picks him up, then there really isn't any pressure for him to play immediately. He can work on himself and his game for the NFL. 

From Texas Tech, 

"Texas Tech will continue to provide the support and recovery resources Brendan requires on this journey. Furthermore, Texas Tech will not seek return of any amounts already paid to Brendan through his NIL agreements with the University," Campbell wrote. "We wish our best to Brendan, and we offer our prayers to him and his family as he chases his dreams at the next level. This has been an unbelievably painful experience for us all, but I know that his true, underlying character and lessons learned through this experience will ultimately bring him great success on the field of play and in life."

Which, I also the right thing to do.