HOUSTON - Facing pressure from the BIG 12 and NCAA, Brendan Sorsby has decided to rush to the NFL, ending the quarterback’s stint with Texas Tech before it even began.
Sorsby’s future has been up in the air since March, when it was discovered that he placed tens of thousands of dollars in online bets, including wagers on the Indiana Hoosiers while he was on the roster.
Last night, Cody Campell, the billionaire chairman of Tech’s board of regents, issued a statement saying that Sorsby will not be a part of the university’s football team this fall.
“This decision was made with Brendan and his family and is purely an output of practical analysis of the situation,” he wrote. “Brendan and Texas Tech stand on very solid and legitimate legal ground, but he faces a June 22nd deadline to be eligible to enter the NFL’s supplemental draft, and there is no practical way to resolve all the various pending legal disputes and ensure his eligibility prior to this date.
“This is the only viable and fair path for Brendan and his future, as well as for his teammates, and our university.”
Legal issues clouded Sorsby’s future leading up to the decision.
Just last week, a Texas court issued a temporary injunction enjoining the NCAA from prohibiting Sorsby from playing with Texas Tech during the 2026 football season. He would, however, have to serve a two game suspension.
The NCAA sought to appeal the decision.
The ruling also caused stirrings with the Big 12 and universities with the conference – mumblings that caught the attention of Attorney General Ken Paxton, who warned against levying sanctions against Sorsby.
On June 11, Paxton sent a letter to The Big 12, suggesting that the conference would possibly have to pay more than $200 million in legal damages if it didn’t drop the issue.
Four days later, The Big 12 sued Paxton and Tech, claiming the attorney general was threatening the conference with punitive liability.
By declaring for the NFL’s supplemental draft, Sorsby effectively ends the legal fight over his eligibility.
Sorsby transferred to Tech from Cincinnati in January for a reported multimillion-dollar deal.
Campbell said the university will not seek the return of any amounts already paid to Sorsby through his NIL agreements.
