Tag: gambling

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

Ruling restores Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility

Posted on | by Field Level Media

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

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

Brendan Sorsby placed at least 40 bets on Indiana football while with team

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Brendan Sorsby placed at least 40 bets on Indiana football during his two seasons with the program, ESPN reported Friday, citing court documents filed by the quarterback’s legal team as part of his request for a temporary injunction against the NCAA to maintain his college eligibility.

The court documents also revealed that Sorsby wagered about $90,000 over a four-year period using sportsbook accounts registered to a family member and friends, and that his gambling continued after transferring from Cincinnati to Texas Tech this winter, per ESPN.

Sorsby had been declared ineligible after investigations found he’d made thousands of dollars of bets on a variety of sports via gambling apps, violating NCAA policy. The current policy prevents student-athletes from placing bets on any NCAA-sanctioned or professional sports. Players can receive permanent bans for betting on their own teams.

The NCAA denied Sorsby’s request for reinstatement on Tuesday, making his lawsuit seeking an injunction for his 2026 season eligibility all the more critical. A hearing in that case is scheduled for Monday in district court in Lubbock, Texas.

The most recent documents filed revealed that Sorsby acknowledged he made at least 2,900 bets totaling more than $30,000 while enrolled at Indiana from June 2022 to December 2023. This included at least 40 bets ranging from $1 to $114 on Indiana football and/or individual players, per ESPN. The bets totaled at least $850 in September and October of 2022, while he was redshirting.

Sorsby made his debut for Indiana against Penn State on Nov. 5, 2022, with the betting reportedly coming to an end two weeks prior.

Sorsby said in a letter to the NCAA that he never bet in a game he played in, nor ever bet against his team.

On Tuesday, Sorsby said in a social media post that he’d recently completed a 35-day, in-patient rehab stay in Arizona to treat “a diagnosed gambling addiction and anxiety disorder.”

“While I accept responsibility for my behavior and know that I have a lot of work ahead of me, for the first time in many years I feel more free and no longer fully at the mercy of my addiction,” Sorsby wrote in part.

“With the support of my coaches, teammates and the university, I’m looking forward to returning to campus in Lubbock. If I’m blessed and fortunate enough to have the opportunity to continue my college career at Texas Tech, I know I will get the support I need, including through the school’s Center for Students in Addiction Recovery. I am deeply sorry to everyone I’ve disappointed and am committed to the hard and necessary work ahead.”

Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech from Cincinnati this offseason and was the Red Raiders’ projected starter for 2026. ESPN ranked Sorsby the No. 1 overall transfer in this year’s class.

Texas Tech on Friday appealed the NCAA’s denial for reinstatement, and members of the university including coach Joey McGuire and president Lawrence Schovanec continued to voice support for the quarterback amid the news of his addiction.

Sorsby’s suit took aim at what he called the NCAA’s “deeply hypocritical” stances on sports betting, and Schovanec wrote an open letter to the campus community Tuesday saying the NCAA’s ruling “should be reversed or modified” given the facts and “context” of Sorsby’s case.

“As a generation of college athletes face the legalization and rapid proliferation of sports betting in our country, gambling addiction is rising to the point of epidemic among college aged men in particular,” Schovanec wrote. “The NCAA’s stated mission includes ‘fostering (student-athletes’) lifelong well-being,’ and they have claimed their goal is to promote a ‘culture of care’ for student athletes’ mental health. Gambling addiction is a clinically recognized behavioral disorder.”

–Field Level Media

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

NCAA denies Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby’s appeal as he exits rehab

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NCAA denied Brendan Sorsby’s request for reinstatement on Tuesday, with Texas Tech’s president vowing to appeal on behalf of the quarterback.

Sorsby had been declared ineligible after investigations had found he’d made thousands of dollars of bets on a variety of sports via gambling apps, violating NCAA policy.

In filing an injunction against the NCAA last week, Sorsby admitted to making the bets, including one in favor of Indiana football while he was a member of that program. He said he never bet in a game he played in nor ever bet against his team, but the current policy prevents student-athletes from placing bets on any NCAA-sanctioned or professional sports. Players can receive permanent bans for betting on their own teams.

Sorsby’s suit took aim at what he called the NCAA’s “deeply hypocritical” stances on sports betting. His lawyers said in the suit that they sought a two-game suspension and the NCAA denied the ask. Now Sorsby will head to court June 1 in Lubbock County, Texas as he seeks eligibility for 2026.

Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech from Cincinnati this offseason and was the Red Raiders’ projected starter for 2026. ESPN ranked Sorsby the No. 1 overall transfer in this year’s class.

Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec wrote an open letter to the campus community Tuesday saying the NCAA’s ruling “should be reversed or modified” given the facts and “context” of Sorsby’s case.

“As a generation of college athletes face the legalization and rapid proliferation of sports betting in our country, gambling addiction is rising to the point of epidemic among college aged men in particular,” Schovanec wrote. “The NCAA’s stated mission includes ‘fostering (student-athletes’) lifelong well-being,’ and they have claimed their goal is to promote a ‘culture of care’ for student athletes’ mental health. Gambling addiction is a clinically recognized behavioral disorder.”

Earlier Tuesday, Sorsby said in a social media post that he’d completed a 35-day, in-patient rehab stay in Arizona to treat “a diagnosed gambling addiction and anxiety disorder” last Friday.

“While I accept responsibility for my behavior and know that I have a lot of work ahead of me, for the first time in many years I feel more free and no longer fully at the mercy of my addiction,” Sorsby wrote in part.

“With the support of my coaches, teammates and the university, I’m looking forward to returning to campus in Lubbock. If I’m blessed and fortunate enough to have the opportunity to continue my college career at Texas Tech, I know I will get the support I need, including through the school’s Center for Students in Addiction Recovery. I am deeply sorry to everyone I’ve disappointed and am committed to the hard and necessary work ahead.”

Schovanec said in his letter that Texas Tech will provide Sorsby “Ongoing outpatient clinical care; participation in group and individual therapy; mentor resources; treatment for his related anxiety disorder; active monitoring of his technological devices; installation of software to block betting sites from his devices; the appointment of a custodian to oversee his personal finances; and periodic compliance checks.”

–Field Level Media

Oklahoma's John Mateer throws a pass during football practice for the University of Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Okla., Wednesday, Aug., 6, 2025.

Report: Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies sports gambling

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Oklahoma starting quarterback John Mateer has denied betting on sports, ESPN reported Tuesday.

Screenshots allegedly taken of his Venmo account surfaced Monday and showed “sports gambling” in the memo field for two transactions on Nov. 20, 2022, during his freshman season at Washington State.

Both transactions reportedly were made to one of his teammates’ Venmo accounts.

The NCAA prohibits betting on any collegiate sports, with potential penalties ranging up to a loss of eligibility.

ESPN reported that Mateer has denied involvement in gambling to officials at Oklahoma, who are planning an investigation into the matter.

Mateer and the Sooners, ranked 18th in the first Associated Press Top 25 poll, are scheduled to start the season at home against Illinois State on Aug. 30.

Mateer transferred to Oklahoma from Washington State this past offseason. The redshirt junior passed for 3,139 yards with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games for the Cougars in 2024.

The other quarterbacks on the Sooners’ depth chart are sophomore Michael Hawkins Jr., Mercer transfer Whitt Newbauer and three-star freshman Jett Niu.

–Field Level Media

Lions safety C.J. Moore runs back a fake punt against the Vikings during the second half of the Lions' 34-23 win over the Vikings on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, at Ford Field. Lionsminn 121122 Kd 6007

Report: Reinstated S C.J. Moore agrees to deal with Lions

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Safety C.J. Moore is returning to the Detroit Lions after serving a one-season suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

The deal is for one year, but financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The Lions signed Moore as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and he played in 56 games (one start) for Detroit. He took part in at least 68 percent of the Lions’ special teams snaps in each of his four seasons with the team and contributed 48 tackles, two passes defensed, an interception and a fumble recovery.

The Lions released Moore, 28, in April 2023 after he was one of five NFL players — including four Lions — to receive suspensions for gambling violations. Wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who like Moore served a season-long ban, signed recently with the Buffalo Bills after his reinstatement.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. (34) signs a ball for a fan Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

NFL reinstates Eagles’ Isaiah Rodgers after gambling ban

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The NFL reinstated Philadelphia Eagles cornerback and kick returner Isaiah Rodgers on Tuesday after a one-year gambling suspension.

Rodgers, 26, has been cleared to participate in all team activities, effective immediately.

The Indianapolis Colts cut Rodgers following his suspension last June and he signed with the Eagles in August.

A sixth-round pick in 2020, Rodgers averaged 27.0 yards on 61 kickoff returns in 45 games with the Colts from 2020-22. He returned a kick 101 yards for a touchdown at Cleveland in Week 5 of 2020.

Following his suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy, Rodgers issued a statement acknowledging his mistakes.

“Addressing the current reports, I want to take full responsibility for my actions. I know I have made mistakes, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to repair the situation,” he posted on social media.

“The last thing I ever wanted to do was to be a distraction to the Colts organization, my coaches and my teammates. I’ve let people down that I care about. I made an error in judgment and I am going to work hard to make sure that those mistakes are rectified through this process. It’s an honor to play in the NFL and I have never taken that lightly. I am very sorry for all of this.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 14, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney (58) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders cut reinstated DE Shaka Toney

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The Washington Commanders cut defensive end Shaka Toney on Monday, days after he was reinstated by the NFL following a one-year gambling suspension.

Washington drafted Toney in the seventh round in 2021 and he appeared in 26 games (one start), registering 1.5 sacks and 16 tackles from 2021-22.

The NFL suspended Toney on April 21, 2023, for violating the league’s policy on gambling. Of the five players who were reinstated by the league last week, he had been the only one still on a roster.

Toney, 26, became expendable this offseason with the Commanders signing defensive ends Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell and Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency and also re-signing Efe Obada. Also on the DE depth chart are KJ Henry, Jalen Harris and Andre Jones Jr.

–Field Level Media

Nov 14, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney (58) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: NFL reinstates 5 players suspended for gambling

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The NFL has reinstated five players who had been suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s gambling policy, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.

Current Washington Commanders edge rusher Shaka Toney, former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Rashod Berry and three former Detroit Lions — wide receiver Quintez Cephus, safety C.J. Moore and defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor — were reinstated.

Toney and four Lions players, including Moore and Cephus, were suspended last April. Lions wide receivers Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were suspended for six games.

The Lions released Cephus and Moore when they were suspended.

The league suspended indefinitely Berry and Colts defensive back Isaiah Rodgers as well as free agent Taylor, who had been waived by the Lions about a month earlier. They were penalized for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season.

Rodgers, who remains suspended, later signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, who have his rights.

–Field Level Media

Inside NCAA Headquarters located in Indianapolis on Friday, March 10, 2023. Ncaa President Charlie Baker

NCAA ‘drawing line’ on gambling, wants player prop bets banned

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The NCAA wants states to ban player prop bets in college sports to protect both athletes and the “integrity of the game,” president Charlie Baker said Wednesday.

“Sports betting issues are on the rise across the country with prop bets continuing to threaten the integrity of competition and leading to student-athletes and professional athletes getting harassed,” Baker said. “The NCAA has been working with states to deal with these threats and many are responding by banning college prop bets.”

Last week, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters he had been threatened by gamblers last season.

“They got my telephone number and were sending me crazy messages about where I live and my kids and all that stuff,” Bickerstaff said. “So it is a dangerous game and a fine line that we’re walking for sure.”

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said recently that gamblers reach out to him directly on social media about prop bets, which involve the performance of individual players and not the team.

“To half the world, I’m just helping them make money on DraftKings or whatever,” he said. “I’m a prop.”

And Baker said that isn’t right.

“This week we will be contacting officials across the country in states that still allow these bets and ask them to join Ohio, Vermont, Maryland and many others and remove college prop bets from all betting markets,” Baker said. “The NCAA is drawing the line on sports betting to protect student-athletes and to protect the integrity of the game.”

Wagering on college sports is a multi-billion industry. The American Gaming Association issued its projection last week that said Americans will legally bet $2.72 billion on the 2024 men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments, equivalent to just 2.2 percent of the total amount of money legally wagered on sports in the U.S. in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Feb 5, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a press conference in advance of Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Roger Goodell: Integrity ‘No. 1’ priority as legalized gambling expands

Posted on | by Field Level Media

At his annual state of the league address Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the topic of gambling, with Super Bowl LVIII being held in the hotbed of betting — Las Vegas — on Sunday.

Speculation has increased regarding the integrity of the league given the NFL’s gambling partnerships with Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings and FanDuel. However, the league has addressed the issue in recent years by updating and enforcing stricter gambling policies. Both players and league employees face consequences for gambling and are barred from gambling or visiting casinos during Super Bowl week.

“It’s our No. 1 objective: Gambling and outside of gambling, the integrity of our game is critical,” Goodell told reporters in the Las Vegas Raiders’ locker room, site of his news conference. “And so we spend a lot of time focusing on that: educating, making sure that all of our personnel are aware of our gambling policies in this case or any other policy that can affect the integrity of our game. Ultimately, that’s our primary job.”

Goodell told reporters he believed 25 league and team personnel violated the NFL’s gambling violations but didn’t reveal whether all were fired or what type of discipline they faced. The commissioner added that approximately 13 players had been disciplined.

The commissioner said that betting on an NFL game could result in termination for a league office employee. Per the latest gambling policy, players receive a one-year suspension for betting on the league and a two-year suspension for betting on their team.

Regarding players betting on other sports, first-time offenders will be suspended two games without pay, second-time offenders six games and third-time offenders at least a one-year suspension.

“We take this incredibly seriously,” Goodell said. “We understand the risk. We did not make the decision. Ultimately the decision was a decision by the Supreme Court: They legalized sports betting. We have to adapt. We have to embrace it. We have been cautious. We have been very thoughtful, I think, in our approach. But we know the risk, and protecting the integrity is No. 1.”

–Field Level Media