Back in May, Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby was denied reinstatement for eligibility for the 2026 season after confessing to a gambling addiction. He reportedly placed bets worth about tens of thousands of dollars over the past four years while using family and friends to avoid detection.
On Friday, the NCAA denied Texas Tech’s appeal for Sorsby’s reinstatement. However, on Monday, a Texas judge granted the quarterback a temporary injunction, allowing him to play in the upcoming season. This decision has caused a massive uproar in the college football world.
According to an ESPN article by Pete Thamel and Max Olson, TCU AD Mike Buddie and Kansas State AD Gene Taylor highlighted how there is chatter among other programs to not schedule games against Texas Tech in 2026 following the decision.
“We anticipate having conversations surrounding it,” Buddie said as per ESPN. “We’re all anticipating it, but this has not been formally discussed.”
Other Big 12 athletic directors have also voiced their disagreement with the ruling in Brendan Sorsby’s case. Conference commissioner Brett Yormark told ESPN about their plans to have a conference meeting with everyone this week.
“The ramifications of today’s ruling are significant and could have broad impacts across college athletics, creating great concern amongst our membership,” Yormark said. “I’ve been consulting with our key stakeholders and have scheduled meetings with our conference ADs and executive board this week.
“We are also in touch with [NCAA president] Charlie Baker and anticipate the NCAA to appeal the order in the next 24-48 hours. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation.”
Brendan Sorsby spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career with the Indiana Hoosiers. In 2024, he transferred to play for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Last season, he recorded 2,800 yards and 27 TDs while leading the team to a 7-6 record.
In January, the quarterback decided to enter the transfer portal for the second time and join the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Josh Pate calls out the judge after Brendan Sorsby’s decision
On Monday, CFB analyst Josh Pate did not shy away from questioning the Texas judge’s decision to provide Brendan Sorsby with a temporary injunction.
“Why is Brendan Sorsby being granted his eligibility here? Why is he getting his injunction?” Pate said. “Did Brendan Sorsby bet on games? Yes. But, I’m going to rule him eligible anyway, because if he’s not eligible, then he’ll miss camaraderie, he’ll miss training and he’ll miss out on resources and a regimen. In a previous life, we called these consequences of poor decision-making.
“Today, it’s just kind of whatever. It makes me ask the judge what was the threshold then. He could’ve murdered 47 people and missed out on the camaraderie and training.”
Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt also released a statement showcasing his support for Brendan Sorsby. He said that the program will provide the quarterback with all the resources for recovery and also claimed that his case did not “warrant permanent ineligibility.”
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