Ruling restores Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby's eligibility

Field Level Media|published: Mon 8th June, 11:37 2026

Texas Tech's Brendan Sorsby looks on during the spring football game, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

A local judge granted Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby's request for a temporary injunction against the NCAA on Monday, making him eligible to play for the Red Raiders this season.

He was ruled ineligible by the NCAA after admitting to gambling on college football games, including betting on his own team while playing at Indiana.

In his ruling Monday in Lubbock County, Texas, district judge Ken Curry restored Sorsby's eligibility and said the NCAA cannot prevent him from "practicing, playing or otherwise participating on Texas Tech's football team for the 2026 season."

The ruling determined Sorsby "will suffer a probable, imminent, and irreparable injury if this Court does not issue this temporary injunction because he will be unable to participate as a member of Texas Tech University's 2026 Football season."

As suggested by his legal team, Sorsby will serve a two-game suspension as part of the injunction terms. That would cover Texas Tech's games against visiting Abilene Christian on Sept. 5 and at Oregon State on Sept. 12.

Sorsby was one of the most coveted quarterbacks in this year's transfer portal class after he left Cincinnati. He entered a treatment program for a gambling addiction on April 27.

He admitted to placing bets on college football games, among other sports. NCAA policy prohibits college athletes from betting on sports its holds competitions for, professional and collegiate.

Sorsby's attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, had requested a ruling by June 15. The quarterback has until June 22 to declare for the NFL's supplemental draft should he be ruled ineligible at the collegiate level.

Court documents filed by Sorsby's legal team showed he placed at least 40 bets on the Indiana football team while playing for the Hoosiers in 2022 and 2023. In all, he wagered about $90,000 through a variety of sportsbook accounts registered to friends and a family member over a four-year period.

Sorsby threw for 5,613 yards, 45 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over the past two seasons at Cincinnati. He also ran for 1,027 yards and 18 touchdowns in 24 games.

Texas Tech won its first-ever Big 12 championship last season and made the College Football Playoff as the No. 4 seed, dropping its quarterfinal matchup vs. No. 5 Oregon 23-0.

--Field Level Media