Tag: Sorsby

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

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

Judge yet to rule in Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility case

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A judge in Lubbock County, Texas presided over a two-hour hearing Monday and left the courtroom without making a ruling as Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby seeks an injunction against the NCAA to play in 2026.

Judge Ken Curry requested additional documentation be provided before he renders his verdict, which could happen in the upcoming days, according to ESPN.

Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, requested a decision be made by June 15 so Sorsby can decide whether to enter the NFL supplement draft by a June 22 deadline.

Curry heard arguments from Sorsby’s team and the NCAA over whether he should be allowed to continue his college football career after making thousands of impermissible bets on college and pro sports — including his own team while at another school.

Sorsby seeks a temporary injunction allowing him to play this season. The quarterback was not present in court Monday.

Sorsby placed at least 40 bets on Indiana football while part of the Hoosiers’ program, court documents revealed last week. Those ranged from $1 to $114 and totaled at least $850 in September and October of 2022, while he was redshirting. Sorsby said in a letter to the NCAA that never bet in a game he played in, nor ever bet against his team.

The quarterback wagered about $90,000 over a four-year period using sportsbook accounts registered to a family member and friends, with 2,900 bets totaling more than $30,000 coming from June 2022 to December 2023 alone. Last week, Sorsby revealed that he completed a 35-day, in-patient rehab stay in Arizona to treat “a diagnosed gambling addiction and anxiety disorder.”

On Monday, Kessler argued that the NCAA ignored Sorsby’s wellbeing in making its decision to render him ineligible. The NCAA countered by saying Sorsby’s mental health was considered, but it did not shield him from the consequence of his actions.

NCAA attorney Taylor Askew further said if an injunction is granted, the collegiate governing body would in effect become the first sports league in the U.S. that could not punish its athletes from betting on its own contests.

The NCAA said it was first informed by law enforcement of Sorsby’s betting activity on March 11, opened its own investigation and notified Texas Tech on April 14. Sorsby’s eligibility was revoked about two weeks later.

Last month, the NCAA denied the university’s request to reinstate Sorsby for 2026, amplifying the importance of Monday’s hearing.

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.

–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

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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

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

Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby files injunction against NCAA in gambling case

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby filed for an injunction against the NCAA on Monday, according to reports. Sorsby, 22, is seeking reinstatement for the upcoming college football season after receiving treatment for a gambling addiction. He has been declared “ineligible for competition,” according to a statement by Texas Tech.

Sorsby’s filing accuses the NCAA of being “deeply hypocritical” with regard to gambling and says Sorsby will be “irreparably harmed” if the injunction is not granted. The filing also refers to Sorsby’s disorder as “clinically diagnosed.”

“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 states.

Sorsby has reportedly been receiving treatment for his condition at an inpatient treatment facility since late April.

The NCAA policy on gambling prevents any student-athlete from placing bets on any NCAA-sanctioned event. Penalties for gambling, especially for cases where the player bets on their own team, can include permanent bans.

Sorsby placed small wagers on Indiana football, his team at the time, to “win or for teammates to exceed expectations.” Sorsby did not participate in the games he bet on.

Sorsby’s legal team also put forth a request under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code for the NCAA to be “precluded from enforcing its gambling bylaws against Mr. Sorsby to deny or withhold his reinstatement.” It requests that he be eligible to “participate fully” for Texas Tech in 2026, including in games. It requests that any NCAA action to the contrary be deemed “void and unenforceable.”

In a statement released Monday, the NCAA said it had not received a reinstatement request for this case.

“The Association’s sports betting rules are clear, as are the reinstatement conditions,” the NCAA statement said. “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.”

Sorsby was the No. 1 player in ESPN’s transfer portal rankings this offseason after playing two seasons at Indiana and two at Cincinnati.

–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.

Reports: NFL teams evaluating Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby

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Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is fighting for his college eligibility, but if Plan B becomes the preferred route, several NFL teams are expected to have interest in selecting him in the supplemental draft.

Sorsby transferred from Cincinnati in the offseason and participated in spring practice with his new team but might never take the field for the Red Raiders in the regular season as the NCAA investigates allegations of rampant betting. The NCAA prohibits athletes and employees from wagering on NCAA events in which a championship is held, which includes football.

ESPN and Cleveland.com reported that teams are doing their due diligence to determine if Sorsby would have value should he enter the supplemental draft by the June 30 deadline.

Sorsby reportedly made bets on Major League Baseball and college football games, and allegedly wagered on Indiana football while he was a redshirt for the Hoosiers in 2022.

Sorsby was highly productive once he got on the field. He had 15 TD passes as a redshirt freshman at Indiana in 2023. Over three total seasons for the Hoosiers and Bearcats (2024-25), Sorsby had 82 total touchdowns (22 rushing) and 17 interceptions.

He threw 27 TDs and five interceptions for Cincinnati last season.

A supplemental draft was last held in 2019. Created in 1977, it was launched to give players with “sudden eligibility changes” a ladder from college to the NFL. However, the league would likely closely review the investigation into Sorsby’s off-field activity before determining whether to hold the special draft in July.

Texas Tech said he would enter a treatment program for a gambling addiction and take an indefinite leave of absence from the team and hired Jeffrey Kessler to try to regain his college eligibility. A prominent sports law attorney, Kessler was lead attorney in the House vs. NCAA case approved in June 2025 that led to revenue sharing in college athletics. Schools were able to share $20.5 million with athletes beginning last July 1, with the amount increasing annually.

Kessler represented the NFL Players Association on behalf of players such as Tom Brady, Ezekiel Elliott, Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice.

Sorsby has placed more than 10,000 sports wagers since 2022, according to a report from On3. He was averaging as many as 20 bets per day on a variety of different sportsbook apps across multiple states, per the report.

Legendary Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar (1985), Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter (1987) and Jets and Cardinals wide receiver Rob Moore (1990) are among the most notable players to enter the NFL via the supplemental draft.

–Field Level Media

Top transfer QB Brendan Sorsby commits to Texas Tech

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Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby, considered the top quarterback in the transfer portal, said Sunday night that he has committed to Texas Tech.

Sorsby reportedly visited Texas Tech on Friday and LSU on Saturday before making the decision.

Sorsby will receive an estimated $5 million in 2026, according to On3. The website said former Texas Tech star Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs was one of the people Sorsby called to break the news.

He had a stellar season for the Bearcats this season, throwing for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns while being intercepted five times. Sorsby also rushed for nine scores.

Sorsby has three seasons of starting experience, one for Indiana in 2023 and two with Cincinnati.

Overall, Sorsby has passed for 7,208 career yards and 60 touchdowns against 18 interceptions. He has 1,305 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground.

Texas Tech spent a lot of money on transfers last offseason and it paid off with a program-record 12 wins. The Red Raiders were the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff but were blanked in their lone playoff game, a 23-0 loss to No. 5 Oregon.

Quarterback Behren Morton completed 18 of 32 passes for 137 yards and two interceptions and Texas Tech had just 215 yards.

Also, Sorsby is the boyfriend of Texas Tech women’s volleyball player Gretchen Sigman, who transferred from Cincinnati to Texas Tech in mid-December.

LSU reportedly will host Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt on a visit Monday. Leavitt was interested in Texas Tech and visited Kentucky over the weekend.

–Field Level Media

Transfer portal roundup: Several top QBs on the move

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Florida’s DJ Lagway is entering the transfer portal next month after two seasons with the Gators, he announced Monday.

The sophomore passer was a five-star recruit in former coach Billy Napier’s 2024 signing class, ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and No. 3 overall prospect by 247Sports.

Lagway completed 63.2% of his passes for 2,264 yards with 16 touchdowns and an SEC-high 14 interceptions in 12 games this season for the 4-8 Gators. He directed a win against then-No. 9 Texas on Oct. 4 but finished 1-6 against ranked opponents.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such an incredible program here at the University of Florida,” Lagway posted on Instagram. “After much prayer, reflection, and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.”

The 6-foot-3 quarterback’s two-year totals included 4,179 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 23 picks in 24 games. Lagway went 6-1 as a starter as a true freshman in 2024, including wins against LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl.

Florida fired Napier after a 3-4 start and hired former Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall to take over the program on Nov. 30.

The transfer portal opens Jan. 2 and players have until Jan. 16 to submit their names. Players competing in the College Football Playoff final will have an extended window from Jan. 20-24.

–Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola is set to enter the transfer portal, according to multiple media reports Monday.

Raiola has not played since suffering a broken fibula in the Cornhuskers’ 21-17 loss to Southern California on Nov. 1. The injury ended his season but is not expected to prevent him from being ready to play at the start of next season.

In his second season with the Cornhuskers, Raiola completed 72.4% of his passes for 2,000 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Rumors of a Raiola departure from Nebraska started swirling in late November when his younger brother, three-star quarterback Dayton, decommitted from Nebraska’s 2026 class. His uncle, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola, was fired by Nebraska on Dec. 6.

The father of Dylan and Dayton is former NFL offensive lineman Dominic Raiola, an All-American and Nebraska Football Hall of Fame inductee.

–Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles will enter the portal after two seasons with the Spartans, he confirmed to ESPN.

A junior with one year of eligibility remaining, Chiles began his career at Oregon State and has played in 30 games with the Spartans (2024-25) and Beavers (2023).

Chiles has completed 61.3% of his passes for 4,116 yards with 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He has rushed for 531 yards and 12 scores.

Chiles enjoyed one of his best games in 2025 against current No. 1 Indiana, completing 27 of 33 passes for 243 yards and one TD in Michigan State’s 38-13 loss on Oct. 18 in Bloomington, Ind.

–Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby announced his intention to enter the transfer portal.

Sorsby has one season of eligibility remaining and could also enter the NFL draft instead of returning to college. He won’t play in Cincinnati’s bowl game against Navy, ESPN reported.

Sorsby spent 2022 and 2023 at Indiana and made seven starts for the Hoosiers as a redshirt freshman in 2023. At Cincinnati, he’s compiled 5,613 passing yards, 45 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions plus 1,027 rushing yards and 18 TDs over 24 games.

A return to Indiana could be in the cards. The Hoosiers developed Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza into a Heisman Trophy winner and Mendoza’s collegiate career will last till the end of No. 1 Indiana’s run in the College Football Playoff.

–Field Level Media

Oct 14, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Brendan Sorsby (15) passes in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana still deciding on QB1 for Rutgers game

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Indiana coach Tom Allen has not named a starting quarterback for this weekend’s home game against Rutgers.

The Hoosiers (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) rotated Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby in Saturday’s 52-7 loss at No. 2 Michigan.

Allen said Monday that the coaching staff is still evaluating who will start against the Scarlet Knights (5-2, 2-2).

He added that whoever starts this Saturday will be under center for the rest of the season.

“This person will be the guy,” Allen said, per the Indianapolis Star. “I’m not going to rotate them back and forth.”

Jackson completed 7 of 13 passes for 52 yards and two interceptions against the Wolverines, while Sorsby threw for 44 yards on 6-of-15 passing and was sacked three times.

“Both of them did some good things on Saturday, both of them made mistakes, but it’s about protecting the football, it’s about running the offense and being effective with that,” Allen said.

Jackson, a redshirt freshman, has completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 914 yards, two TDs and five picks in six games.

Sorsby, also a redshirt freshman, has completed 51.7 percent of his throws for 294 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in four games.

–Field Level Media

Indiana's Tayven Jackson (2) passes during the first half of the Indiana versus Indiana State football game at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.

Indiana chooses Tayven Jackson as starting QB

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Tayven Jackson has been named Indiana’s starting quarterback after sharing time with Brendan Sorsby over the first two games.

Hoosiers coach Tom Allen noted that the offense played with more energy during Jackson’s time on the field so he opted to end the splitting time method leading into Saturday’s game against Louisville at Indianapolis.

Jackson went 18 of 21 for 236 yards in last Friday’s 41-7 victory over FCS program Indiana State. Sorsby was 9-of-16 passing for 108 yards.

“We’ve got two quarterbacks I believe can both successfully lead our program and do great things on game day,” Allen said on Monday. “I felt like we needed to get full game evaluation because it was so close and to be able to see, ‘OK, who moves the ball down the field and scores points?’

“That’s really what it comes down to at the end of the day, and there’s a field presence you have during games.”

Sorsby started the Sept. 2 season-opening 23-3 loss to then-No. 3 Ohio State and completed 8 of 16 passes for 58 yards. Jackson was 1 of 5 for 24 yards in relief. Both players are redshirt freshmen.

Jackson is the brother of former Indiana basketball All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis. He initially chose Tennessee and opted to transfer to Indiana after last season.

Sorsby got into one game last season and went 3 for 6 for 8 yards and an interception against Penn State.

“I know they both want to be the guy, I get that,” Allen said. “You’re competitive. You want to be in this position. But Tayven knows he’s got to perform, and Brendan knows he’s got to be ready. That’s the reality of competition and performing at an elite level.”

–Field Level Media