Since winning the injunction ensuring he would be eligible to play in the 2026 college football season, Brendan Sorsby has faced major backlash from media members, athletic directors, and the NCAA itself.
With the majority calling for the decision to be overturned, Colin Cowherd has come to the Texas Tech quarterback’s defense with a bold take. In a video clip posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Cowherd said:
“You’d think he hacked into NORAD. I mean, Pete Rose has defenders. All ages. He was a grown man in a professional league, in a managerial position, and sports gambling was illegal. Sorsby’s a college kid who grew up in the first gambling generation. Of course, this was gonna happen.” (@colincowherd)
Cowherd compared the Sorsby gambling controversy to baseball legend Pete Rose, asking fans to give the Texas Tech transfer similar grace as Rose. The player-manager was permanently banned by the MLB for betting on games involving his team, the Cincinnati Reds.
According to reports, Sorsby allegedly made ‘more than 2900 bets’, with the amount totaling up to $3000.
Cowherd, a veteran sports host, also compared the severity of Sorsby betting on games to that of Pete Rose, claiming the former Indiana star did nothing to influence the games despite the bets placed on the Hoosiers during his time there.
“He’s on the phone, in an Uber, not fixing games in a smoky back room of the 1919 White Sox,” Cowherd said.
Sorsby was granted permission by the Lubbock County Court to play in the upcoming season. The Texas Tech signal caller’s trial date was set all the way in 2027, after the national championship game.
Texas AG Defends Brendan Sorsby Court Ruling
While the NCAA is expected to appeal the injunction, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has stated there could be consequences if any sanctions are levied by the Big 12 on Texas Tech and its senior-year quarterback.
In a letter addressed to the leaders of the conference, Paxton stated:
“Texas Tech acted consistent with a lawful court order and no athletic conference has the right to punish a member institution for respecting the judicial process. Antitrust laws exist to prevent exactly this type of illegal coordinated effort to harm a competitor. Any attempt by the Big 12 to sanction Texas Tech for honoring the results of a lawsuit it was not a party to would carry serious legal consequences.”
As things stand, Brendan Sorsby is in line to serve a two-game suspension against Abilene Christian and Oregon State at the start of the 2026 season. Backup quarterback Will Hammond will lead the Red Raiders in his absence.
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