Texas Tech is facing mounting opposition from athletic programs across the country after a court ruling cleared quarterback Brendan Sorsby to play in the 2026 season despite an NCAA ban stemming from sports-betting violations.
A Lubbock County judge granted Sorsby a temporary injunction Monday, allowing the fifth-year quarterback to return to competition while his legal challenge against the NCAA proceeds. The decision prompted immediate criticism from athletic administrators and has led some schools to reconsider future competition against Texas Tech.
Georgia Athletic Director Josh Brooks directed staff not to schedule contests against the Red Raiders in any sport “until further notice,” according to a department memo. Nebraska issued similar instructions, telling coaches to avoid scheduling new matchups with Texas Tech and to review any existing agreements.
The reaction has extended beyond those schools. Athletic directors within the Big 12 Conference have discussed the possibility of refusing to play Texas Tech in football during the 2026 season, while broader conversations about coordinated action have emerged among schools in other major conferences.
The NCAA has appealed the ruling, arguing it undermines the integrity of collegiate athletics.
Sorsby had been declared permanently ineligible after admitting to placing thousands of sports wagers, including more than 40 bets involving Indiana football games while he was a member of the Hoosiers in 2022. Court documents indicate the wagers ranged from $5 to $50 and were placed on Indiana to win or on teammates to perform well.
“To be clear, I never placed any bets ‘against’ Indiana or against any players on the team,” Sorsby said in an affidavit, The Dallas Express reported. “I never used any non-public information that I knew about the team in deciding what bets to place.”
The quarterback, who transferred to Texas Tech after a season at Cincinnati in which he threw for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions, has been undergoing residential treatment for what court filings describe as a clinically diagnosed gambling disorder.
“In retrospect, by the end of my freshman year at Indiana, I was truly addicted to gambling,” Sorsby said, according to the filing. “I began placing hundreds of bets on anything and everything, including non-major doubles tennis tournaments and the Major League Baseball draft.”
His attorneys argued that preventing him from participating would cause “irreparable harm” to both his recovery and football career. The lawsuit accused the NCAA of taking a contradictory approach to gambling and argued the organization had failed in its obligations to support his well-being.
“The NCAA has weaponized his condition to shore up a facade of competitive integrity, while simultaneously profiting from the very gambling ecosystem it polices,” the filing stated, per DX.
The NCAA defended its position, emphasizing that its sports betting rules are designed to protect competition.
“The Association’s sports betting rules are clear, as are the reinstatement conditions,” the organization said in a statement. “When it comes to betting on one’s own team, these rules must be enforced in every case for the simple reason that the integrity of the game is at risk. Every sports league has these protections in place, and the NCAA will continue to apply them equally because every student-athlete competing deserves to know they’re playing a fair game.”
Under the court order, Sorsby will miss the first two games of the 2026 season but will otherwise be eligible to play while the case continues.
Texas Tech officials welcomed the ruling. Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt expressed support for Sorsby’s return, while the university said it intended to pursue reinstatement efforts while continuing to prioritize his health.
Coach Joey McGuire previously voiced support for the quarterback after he stepped away from the team to seek treatment.
“We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help,” McGuire said, per DX. “Taking this step requires courage, and our primary focus is on him as a person.”
Hours after the injunction was granted, Sorsby released a statement expressing gratitude for the outcome.
“I’m very grateful for the endless support I have received throughout this entire process,” Sorsby said. “I am also grateful for the chance to rejoin my teammates. This opportunity comes with the responsibility to remain focused on my personal growth, the ability to learn from this experience, and to be able to use my situation to help others going forward.”
