Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby Seeks Injunction Against NCAA

A district court judge in Lubbock, Texas, will focus Monday afternoon on a pivotal case involving Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Attorney will argue for an injunction allowing him to play this season, despite admitting to extensive betting over the past four years, including on his own team. This legal matter has gained widespread attention in college athletics, potentially marking the end of Sorsby’s time at Texas Tech after only five months.

Legal documents obtained by OutKick reveal that Sorsby’s attorneys are presenting comprehensive information to the court. They aim to secure a ruling against the NCAA by highlighting a diagnosis from a doctor at an Arizona rehabilitation center.

On Friday, Sorsby’s legal team submitted numerous details to the court, explaining how he managed to place such a large quantity of bets while at Indiana, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech. According to ESPN’s David Purdum, confirmed through txcourts.gov, a 111-page affidavit states Sorsby bet $90,000 over four years. His gambling activity began during his first year with the Indiana Hoosiers. He used various betting apps, including FanDuel, Underdog, Hard Rock Bet, and PrizePicks.

Brendan Sorsby of the Cincinnati Bearcats scrambles during the first half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 29, 2025. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Sorsby confessed to transferring at least $60,000 to friends for placing bets on sports like NBA, PGA Tour, and MLB, as well as college football. The most significant betting activity occurred while he was a scout-team quarterback at Indiana. Sorsby’s filing admits to making over 2,900 bets totaling $30,000 during his time in Bloomington.

During the 2022 season, Sorsby placed 40 wagers on his own football team, violating NCAA rules. He claims he only bet on the Hoosiers to win and ceased betting before his Indiana debut against Penn State that year. NCAA regulations forbid betting on any sport with a collegiate championship, making his actions a violation. Consequently, the NCAA deemed Sorsby ineligible for the upcoming 2026 season.

Sorsby’s defense criticized the NCAA for not supporting his recovery from a gambling addiction, instead using it against him. “Mr. Sorsby is currently ineligible to play for Texas Tech due to prior violations of the NCAA’s sports gambling rules. Rather than support a student-athlete’s recovery from a gambling addiction, the NCAA has weaponized his condition to shore up a facade of competitive integrity,” the complaint stated.

Future Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby shouts during the first half of the game between the Houston Cougars and Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, on Jan. 24, 2026. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

While Sorsby claims that he never bet on games in which he participated, the battle against NCAA rules continues. Questions arose about whether he stopped gambling at Texas Tech. Sorsby admitted the addiction persisted, using friends’ accounts to place more bets. Documents show he used accounts of two friends to bet and sent them $5,000 to wager on MLB, NBA, and PGA Tour events for him.

“Given the money I had and earned from NIL, the total amount of money I made from 2022 to 2025 was not a big deal to me. I never kept track of my betting over time, but I’m pretty sure I lost more than I won,” Sorsby stated in the filing.

Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby leaps over Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. to score a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Aug. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Despite this, Texas Tech supports Sorsby’s fight for reinstatement, proposing a two-game suspension as an appropriate penalty. The school argued that imposing a career-ending sanction would discourage athletes facing mental health challenges and addictions from seeking help.

“By imposing a two-game suspension on Sorsby and allowing him to continue his final season of eligibility, the NCAA would not be creating bad precedent, nor flouting existing precedent,” Texas Tech noted in a communication to the NCAA.

It’s important to acknowledge that Sorsby didn’t disclose his gambling issues until the NCAA became aware. Texas Tech was unaware of the situation when he enrolled. The investigation stemmed from a tip to the NCAA.

Now, Sorsby, Texas Tech, and the collegiate athletics community await a district court’s ruling that could significantly impact college sports policies.